Deadly Floods Hit Central Texas

Tornadoes Rip Across US Midwest

Relief Team responds to Canada wildfires

Feeding families impacted by conflict in the Middle East

Wildfires Force Evacuations in Türkiye

Supporting Palestinians displaced by conflict in Gaza & West Bank

Hurricane Erick Slams into Mexico

WCK mobilizes amid catastrophic floods in Argentina

WCK & local partners support Haitians amid widespread unrest

Historic volcano eruption in La Palma

Community shattered after elementary school shooting in Texas

Remnants of Typhoon Merbok hit Alaska’s coastal communities hard

Relief Team supports families impacted by Hurricane Helene

Extreme weather causes deadly flash flooding in eastern Afghanistan

Nationwide protests left migrants and refugees stranded in Panama

WCK is supporting North and South Carolina communities impacted by wildfires

Heavy rains and flooding exacerbate water crisis in Mississippi

Tornado ravages Selma, Alabama

WCK mobilizes across southeastern US after tornado and storm outbreak

More than 200 wildfires burn across Chile

WCK responds to Covid surge in India

Hurricane Ian slams into Florida as a near Category-5 storm

Atmospheric rivers pose challenges in Western Canada

WCK responds to severe flooding in Spain

Super Typhoon Rai devastates the Philippines

California snow storms leave families stranded throughout San Bernardino County

100,000 meals served in Del Rio, Texas

Floods affect millions in Bangladesh

Deadly tornadoes rip through southern US

Floods & mudslides ravage Petrópolis, Brazil

Tenerife wildfire threatens multiple communities

WCK Responds to Community Crisis in Haiti

Underwater volcano erupts near Tonga

WCK supporting families in Myanmar following earthquake

Relief Team mobilizes in South Texas and Mexico amid catastrophic floods

Wildfires rage across Southern California

Relief Team mobilizes to communities hit by Cyclone Chido

WCK mobilizes in Mexico after Hurricane John

WCK Responds to Devastating Floods in Australia

WCK provides critical support to Ukrainians impacted by war

Storm Ernesto hits Puerto Rico and Bermuda

Multiple southern California wildfires force evacuations

WCK supports communities in Poland and Czech Republic after severe flooding

Hurricane Milton hits storm ravaged Florida

Louisiana bears the brunt of Hurricane Francine

Supporting five countries impacted by Hurricane Beryl

Flooding in Bangladesh impacted millions

WCK response to Hurricane Debby

WCK response to wildfires in Athens

Relief Team in Japan after powerful quake

Wildfires in the Mescalero Apache Reservation & New Mexico

WCK responded in southern Brazil during historic flooding

WCK in St. Vincent following volcano eruption

Relief Team responds to massive Texas wildfire

Torrential rains cause catastrophic flooding in Vermont

WCK serving refugee families at the US-Mexico border

Dozens killed as violence in Gaza flares

Hurricane Julia causes deadly flooding and landslides in South and Central America

Category 4 Hurricane Ida makes landfall in Louisiana

Relief Team in Tennessee after devastating tornadoes

Wildfires in Chile caused widespread destruction

We Fed an Island: WCK’s Hurricane Maria response

Powerful quakes devastate communities in Türkiye and Syria

Hurricane Idalia hits Florida and Georgia

Earthquakes in Afghanistan destroy rural villages

Catastrophic floods displace thousands in Assam, India

WCK prepares in Iceland ahead of potential volcanic eruption

Deadliest blizzard in decades hits Buffalo

WCK mobilizes across southern US after devastating storms

Unpredictable winds spread fires across northern New Mexico

Back-to-back storms ravage California

WCK's Covid-19 Response

Fresh meals for Afghan refugees

Severe floods force families in central Chile to evacuate

6.4-magnitude earthquake strikes Northern California

WCK responds to Venezuelan refugee crisis

Relief Team responds to refugee crisis in Armenia

Record-breaking rains in South Africa

Oak Fire forces thousands in Central California to evacuate

Deadly 5.9-magnitude earthquake strikes Afghanistan

Wind-fueled fires followed by snow in Colorado

US Tornado Response

Horrific supermarket shooting in Buffalo, New York

Cyclone Batsirai makes landfall in Madagascar

Heat wave sparks fires across Spain

Hawaiʻi wildfires displace thousands

WCK Responds to 7.2 Earthquake in Haiti

Heatwave-fueled wildfires across Greece

Weeks of heavy rains lead to catastrophic flooding in Australia

Overnight rains bring catastrophic flooding to eastern Kentucky

Devastating quake strikes Morocco

Hurricane Fiona causes catastrophic damage from the Caribbean to Canada

Category 5 Hurricane Dorian devastates The Bahamas

Historic hurricane makes landfall in Mexico

Ongoing torrential rains leave a third of Pakistan inundated

Heavy rains and flooding in Brazil

Deadly floods & landslides in Pernambuco, Brazil

WCK responds in Mexico after Hurricane Otis

WCK in 2020

José Andrés

Nate Mook

This year has been difficult in ways none of us could have imagined, pushing many of us to our limits and for some, taking away our loved ones. But we have also seen the best of humanity, an endless supply of empathy pouring out in communities around the world, neighbors helping neighbors get through. And we have you to thank. Every single one of you is an integral part of WCK's work – helping us feed people, support local economies, and show up for families in crisis.

We wanted to share with you a look back at a year that we will forever remember with both heartache and hope – a time when we truly understood the vital importance of sticking together, and the healing power of a hot plate of food.

Wherever there’s a fight so hungry people may eat, we will be there – we must be there.

Explore this interactive map highlighting our work across the United States in response to the pandemic. By clicking ‘next’ in the bottom left box, you’ll be taken through our efforts over the year—thank you for taking this journey with us.

Follow Along: 35 Million Meals

After being shaken awake by a 6.4-magnitude earthquake at 4:30 AM on January 7, WCK’s local team in Puerto Rico begins cooking, eventually serving nearly 400,000 meals across the southern part of the island.

Record-breaking temperatures and months of drought led to the most destructive fire season Australia has ever seen, with over 16 million acres burned. WCK activates on the continent for the first time, serving hot meals to first responders and evacuees of the deadly bushfires.

January

In Brownsville, Texas, WCK expands our #ChefsForThePeople effort to provide nourishing meals to families seeking asylum in the United States by cooking meals and walking them across the border into Matamoros, Mexico each day.

WCK serves our 3 millionth meal in The Bahamas after activating in September 2019 in response to Category 5 Hurricane Dorian. 

As concerns over a deadly new virus rise around the world, WCK’s Relief Team goes to Japan to serve meals to quarantined passengers aboard a Princess Cruise ship in Yokohama.

February

In an effort to control the spread of COVID-19, lockdowns quickly sweep across the United States. After serving meals to a second cruise ship docked in Oakland, California, WCK activates in the country’s epicenter—New York City—to serve meals to families in need. Emergency responses in Los Angeles, Little Rock, Washington DC, and Spain begin soon after.

March

WCK’s COVID response in the US, #ChefsForAmerica, is active in 155 cities, and our team has served 3 million meals to healthcare heroes on the frontlines as well as families impacted by shutdowns.

WCK establishes a new model to feed communities in need: paying restaurants struggling to stay afloat to cook meals for neighbors who need access to fresh food...Restaurants For The People is born.

April

Following WCK’s emergency response to Hurricane Dorian in The Bahamas, we begin the next phase of support—strengthening the local food economy by expanding our Food Producer Network to the Abaco Islands.

WCK has served 10 million meals through our COVID-19 response and disbursed $15 million to local restaurants through Restaurants for the People. 

WCK and the Navajo Nation Diné team are producing 1,500 meal kits each week. The kits include a mix of pantry staples and fresh produce and are delivered to the elderly and other vulnerable community members so they can remain safe at home.

June

Our Resilience Team continues expanding WCK’s work around food security in the Caribbean by bringing the Food Producer Network to the US Virgin Islands.

July

WCK heads to Beirut, Lebanon after an explosion at the port causes mass destruction in a matter of seconds. Eight local restaurants help WCK serve 190,000 meals to survivors and volunteers cleaning the streets. 

A destructive derecho rips through the city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and WCK is there to serve meals and provide solar flashlights to the community as they wait for power to be restored.

In what would become the worst fire season in California’s history, WCK begins cooking across the northern part of the state for evacuees, firefighters, and other first responders. 

Hurricane Laura slams the Gulf Coast of the United States and our Relief Team quickly starts serving meals to people affected in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

August

One year after Hurricane Dorian hit the islands, WCK’s Food Producer Network has partnered with 12 food businesses in the Abacos and has awarded more than $175,000 in support.

Hurricane Sally batters Louisiana again, so our Mobile Relief Kitchens continue cooking for impacted communities. 

In Venezuela, WCK has served over 2 million meals to children in response to the humanitarian crisis. Despite challenges from the pandemic & increased fuel shortages, our local team—led by Andres—continues to serve meals in Merida, Caracas, Miranda, and Cagua. 

On the west coast, wildfires continue to burn, including around Portland, Oregon. WCK activates in the state for the first time, partnering with local restaurants to make sure evacuees and firefighters remain nourished.

September

In an effort to put hope and community at the center of election season, WCK kicks off #ChefsForThePolls to serve people waiting in lines up to 11 hours long in Georgia.

WCK’s Resilience Team launches a monthly farmers market in Santurce, Puerto Rico, offering products from Food Producer Network grantees including produce, dairy products, and honey.

October

Category 4 Hurricane Eta hits Central America and WCK responds in Honduras and Guatemala. Just weeks later, Hurricane Iota takes nearly the same path. Our response expands to the Colombian islands of San Andrés and Providencia.

Between early voting and Election Day, WCK’s #ChefsForThePolls initiative serves 500,000 meals while supporting 500 local food trucks and restaurants.

Teresa—WCK’s lead in Tijuana, Mexico—prepared a special Thanksgiving meal for refugee students attending the Yes We Can School. The team in Tijuana has been cooking meals for refugees at the border since 2018. 

November

After overcoming challenges that included both civil unrest and the pandemic, 38 young chefs graduate from WCK’s Ecolé des Chefs culinary school in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

$135 million has been paid directly to restaurants through WCK’s Restaurants For The People program. 

December

2020 Timeline: A Look Back

FIRST ALERT: WCK in central Texas amid catastrophic flooding

World Central Kitchen’s Relief Team is on our way to central Texas to support communities impacted by catastrophic flooding in Hill Country on Friday, July 4. Heavy rains in the region overnight peaked at 15 inches in some places and led to the flooding of the Guadalupe River. The National Weather Service reported that the river has reached the second-highest height on record—waters rose more than 26 feet in just 45 minutes. At least 13 people have lost their lives, and search and rescue efforts are underway to locate missing residents. The flooding is also impacting a number of children and staff stranded at local summer camps.

WCK Relief Team members are en route to assess the communities’ needs for food and water, and will determine if more support is needed.

This remains a quickly evolving situation. You can sign up to our newsletter to receive more information and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for real time updates.

First Alert: WCK is en route to central Texas amid catastrophic flooding

WCK’s Relief Team is on our way to central Texas to support communities impacted by catastrophic flooding in Hill Country. The Guadalupe River rose more than 26 feet in 45 minutes after heavy rains, impacting a number of children and staff stranded at local summer camps and prompting search and rescue efforts.

Historic flooding has devastated communities across central Texas, submerging homes, stranding families, and prompting widespread evacuations. Intense rain caused the Guadalupe River to rise 26 feet in 45 minutes. Within hours of rescue operations beginning, World Central Kitchen was on the scene. Our team mobilized on the day of the flooding to deliver meals to families and first responders across the region. Since arriving on July 4, we have served thousands of meals.

Children and families at summer camps in the area were impacted by flooding, with many people stranded or missing. We worked to support those families at every stage: We reached children and staff at summer camps in the area, who were then safely evacuated after receiving meals. We provided hot meals at a reunification center where evacuees were gathering to reconnect with loved ones. In Hunt, we are specifically supporting the Camp Mystic community, which has been hit hard by the flooding. Our meals are reaching families at reunification centers, hotels, and rescue crews on-site at the camp and comforting families who are grieving. 

Texas Flood Relief: WCK Delivers Meals Where They're Needed Most

In addition to the impacted summer camps, we delivered hundreds of hot meals and sandwiches in some of the hardest-hit communities, including Kerrville, Hunt, and Germantown, TX. The team delivered these meals to displaced families sheltering in hotels or with other family members, and to first responders working long hours in the search zone.

We’re working hand in hand with local chefs and impacted residents to harness the power of the local community in our response. Texas Chef Corps members Tavel Bristol-Joseph and Jorge Luis Hernández jumped into action, preparing sandwiches and cookies to nourish neighbors who were grieving and displaced. By collaborating with local partners, including rescue teams, we’re delivering food directly to the people who need it most—quickly, efficiently, and with care.

At food distribution sites, our teams are meeting exhausted search crews still working in dangerous and emotionally taxing conditions. We’re providing nutrient-rich meals and hydration to fuel their nonstop efforts—and we are continuously adapting as needs evolve.

Historic flooding has devastated communities across central Texas, submerging homes, stranding families, and prompting widespread evacuations. Intense rain caused the Guadalupe River to rise 26 feet within 45 minutes. Within hours of rescue operations beginning, World Central Kitchen was on the scene. Our team mobilized to deliver meals to families and first responders across the region. With floodwaters rising rapidly, our team responded quickly. Since arriving on July 4, we have served thousands of meals.

'People still have a heart': Couple rescues more than a dozen strangers trapped inside Airbnb

People Still Have Heart

[Press] Sam TX CNN 7.6

What happens when lightning strikes three times? In late June, Hurricane Erick, the first major hurricane of the 2025 hurricane season, made landfall in southern Mexico, bringing devastating winds and heavy rains to communities across Oaxaca and Guerrero. 

To date, we have served almost 400,000 meals to families impacted by the storm. But this response isn’t where our story started.

ATVs, Boats, and Cooks: How WCK is Supporting Families in Mexico After Hurricane Erick

WCK  developed close community ties while supporting families in this part of Mexico following disasters the past three years–Hurricane Otis in 2023, Hurricane John in 2024, and now Hurricane Erick. We are uniquely positioned to help families rebuild as the global climate crisis causes recurring devastation. The relationships we have built in the region helped us scale up quickly, using every tool we have to serve communities in even the most remote areas.

In Apaculco, where Hurricanes Otis and John left thousands of families without food, water, and basic utilities, our teams maintained close ties with trusted partners. Within three hours of launching our response to Hurricane Erick, our restaurant partners began community outreach efforts across the city. There, they served sandwiches as they visited communities, returning in the following days to serve hot meals. 

The same is true in Ometepec, Guerrero, where our partner Chef Danniel conducted community outreach and began cooking for his neighbors within 24 hours of Erick making landfall. His restaurant, Jardines Tabachines, worked with us during our response to Hurricane John. When WCK reached out to him, he was prepared to jump into action immediately. 

“That’s what happens when we build meaningful relationships and share and explain our values,” says WCK Response Director Juan Camilo. “These restaurants become part of WCK, ready to act in the toughest moments.” 

While partners like Danniel are cooking, some communities look to meet their needs in different ways. Our ground teams are also distributing meal kits to families who would prefer to cook for themselves. We are distributing 20,000 kits, each with ingredients for 25 meals, providing consistent access to essentials like beans and flour.

Community members are cooking for each other at a WCK Community Kitchen and Field Kitchen. In the remote town of Pinotepa Nacional, our Field Kitchen has scaled up to produce over 3,000 meals per day, just a week after opening its doors, supplemented by restaurants and community partners across the region.

Accessing remote areas was a unique challenge for our teams: Many of the most impacted towns are difficult to reach, with damaged infrastructure complicating travel. In some cases, our teams crossed lagoons and rivers to reach people in need. We are also using ATVs to traverse mountainous terrain. No matter the obstacle, we are finding ways to deliver meals where they are needed most.

As climate disasters increase in severity and frequency, WCK is committed to showing up to support impacted communities. “The reality is that [hurricane] season is just starting, and more might come,” said Juan Camilo, “But WCK is ready with teams deployed around the world to respond.” 

What happens when lightning strikes three times? In late June, Hurricane Erick, the first storm of the 2025 hurricane season, made landfall in southern Mexico, bringing devastating winds and heavy rains to communities across Oaxaca and Guerrero. 
To date, we have served almost 400,000 meals to families impacted by the storm. But this response isn’t where our story started.

Navigating Chaos

[Press] Wadhah Medium

Liz Caselli-Mechael, Global Head of Content & Digital of Nestlé in the SPORT BEACH Content Studio

SPORT BEACH Content Studio

[Press] Liz Stagwell

Social Gastronomy in Practice - World Central Kitchen  — Social Gastronomy Movement

Social Gastronomy in Practice - WCK

[Press] Juan Camilo social Gastronomy

Meet Tunde: Providing Aid in the Aftermath of Crises — girl friday

Meet Tunde: Providing Aid in the Aftermath of Crises

[Press] Tunde DearGirlFriday 1.12

A new study on donor-advised funds revealed increased long-term and responsive giving, as well as other donor behaviors and sentiments.

WCK in 2020

Wherever there’s a fight so hungry people may eat, we will be there – we must be there.

Dear Friends,

Follow Along: 35 Million Meals

2020 Timeline: A Look Back