Cisco: Keeping WCK Connected When It Matters Most

When crises strike, speed and access are everything. Through in-kind travel and generous cash support, Cisco has been a vital partner in powering WCK’s mission, contributing more than $3 million in grants, donations, in-kind support, and employee gift matching since 2020. From Jamaica, to Gaza, Cisco’s support has helped fuel WCK’s work around the world.

This year, Cisco is elevating their support of WCK’s mission by addressing one of our most critical operational challenges: connectivity in the field. Through its Crisis Response team, Cisco has long helped our teams get connected in disaster zones. Now, they’ve taken that a step further, providing WCK with a suite of networking tools purpose-built for how we operate. At our headquarters and Relief Operations Center, upgraded infrastructure will give our team the capacity and security to coordinate responses without interruption, while expanded remote access allows staff to securely connect to WCK systems from anywhere in the world.

Soon, that same reliability will extend to the field. WCK teams will deploy with portable communication kits that stand up a secure, managed wireless internet within minutes of arriving on site, with no reliance on local infrastructure required. Compact travel routers paired with satellite internet will give team members a secure connection even in the most remote locations, all centrally managed in real time. When connectivity is reliable, our response teams can spend less time troubleshooting and more time doing what they do best: getting meals to people who need them most. We’re grateful to Cisco for powering the connections that make our work possible.

Get Involved

Interested in joining our growing community of impact-driven partners? Contact Michael Mertz, Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations, at mmertz@wck.org to learn more.

Streaming Generosity in Action

At World Central Kitchen, we are constantly inspired by the creativity and generosity of people around the world who rally their communities to support our global relief efforts. One group that has consistently gone above and beyond is the streaming and gaming community.

In 2025, WCK had the honor of joining Games Done Quick at GDQx during TwitchCon, where the speedrunning community came together to raise critical funds in support of our mission. GDQ put WCK front and center, engaging viewers with exciting incentives and highlighting how donations translate directly into meals for families in need. The weekend was a tremendous success, and we are so grateful to GDQ for welcoming us into their programming and shining a spotlight on our work.

The community’s support didn’t stop there. For the first time, WCK launched a Season of Giving campaign on Tiltify, allowing streamers to rally their audiences around emergency relief. Streamers across the platform, including Sasha Grey, hosted charity streams that directly helped WCK serve fresh meals in communities facing crises around the world.

This passionate community continues to show how creativity, generosity, and connection can come together to drive real impact. We are deeply thankful to GDQ, all the streamers, and every supporter who made this possible.

Get Involved

Reach out to Matt Tripsas, Director of Community Fundraising, at Matthew@wck.org to learn how you can bring your community together to support WCK or host a fundraising event.

From Uncertainty to Impact: The Power of Monthly Giving

Meet Andrea Nichols, a monthly donor since 2022 and a WCK Kitchen Corps member whose four years of generosity has been fueling our mission.  Andrea’s story reflects a common experience of feeling overwhelmed, a desire to help, and the uncertainty of not knowing how. What she discovered is that consistent, monthly giving — no matter the size — adds up to more than we might think.

What inspired you to support World Central Kitchen? 

Back about 4 or 5 years ago, when I heard about the Ukraine war, I was devastated to hear about what all the people were going through. I wanted to help but did not know the best and safest way to make a difference. Plus, I wanted to make sure my contribution would actually go to the people and not be misused. I heard of WCK through my employer, Edward Jones Investments.  I started giving monthly and haven’t stopped.

Is there a specific WCK activation or story that has resonated with you? 

Seeing how WCK helped people all over the world in desperate need for food and bare necessities made me even more committed to giving. But, it was specifically the Ukraine war that inspired me to give.  I wanted to help others that are in less fortunate situations. The amount of people in devastating situations all over the world is overwhelming. How can we make a difference? Seeing who WCK has and is helping makes me want to give more.

What does giving back mean to you? 

Giving back to me means sharing your blessings with others. Realizing how fortunate we are for what God blesses us with and then sharing it to help others in need. We can sometimes be immobilized and unsure if giving a little will even make a difference or unsure which organization is legit or safe to give to. It felt good to know giving to an every day need to people all over the world through WCK made a difference.

If you could describe WCK’s impact in one word, what would it be? 

AMAZING! is the first word that popped into my mind. I end up feeling unsure what I could do to even make a difference. When I see that WCK started with one person’s desire to help others it amazes me…their drive, inspiration and actions to develop WCK and keep it going is amazing and very inspiring!

Anything else you’d like to share? 

Years ago when I was barely making enough money to support myself, I read about the importance of giving and tithing to help others. It is what our creator wants us to do. I thought to myself, I’ll try $25 or $50 a month or paycheck and see if it will deplete my budget, but it didn’t. As time went on, I was able to give more and more, and it feels great to know you are helping others. I pray and hope that what I give to WCK makes a big difference in someone’s life. We see devastating events on the news and sitting back and doing nothing doesn’t work. We have to just start giving no matter the size to make a difference.

We are truly honored and deeply grateful to have Andrea as part of our Kitchen Corps monthly giving community since 2022. Our monthly donors help WCK plan, scale, and act swiftly, building sustainable solutions together. We cannot thank her enough for her unwavering support and commitment to our mission! 

Get Involved

Reach out to Paige Cofield, Director of Individual Giving, at paige@wck.org to learn how you can support WCK.