Mission, Vision & Values
World Central Kitchen (WCK) is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. Applying our model of quick action, leveraging local resources, and adapting in real time, WCK has served hundreds of millions of nourishing meals around the world. When disaster strikes, WCK’s Relief Team mobilizes with the urgency of now to start cooking and serving meals to people in need efficiently and with dignity. By partnering with organizations on the ground and activating a network of local restaurants, food trucks, or emergency kitchens, WCK serves comforting meals to survivors of disasters quickly and effectively. To support regional economies, WCK prioritizes purchasing local ingredients to cook with or distribute directly to families in need. We know that good food provides not only nourishment, but also comfort and hope, especially in times of crisis.
Mission
WCK is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises.
Vision: The WCK Way
WCK has learned a lot about our potential over the years. We’ve seen our model work in a myriad of disasters and crises and we have quickly become a leading organization in food relief. We have accomplished this by wholeheartedly embracing what makes us unique – this is what we call “the WCK Way”:
WCK shows up when others can’t or won’t. We err on the side of feeding people expeditiously vs. asking for permission or following systems and bureaucracy that lack urgency and flexibility.
WCK is a frontline force that shows up with the fierce urgency of now. We are “911 for food relief.”
WCK hires locally and buys locally as much as possible. We tap into and fuel the courage and tenacity of people and businesses in the affected community. There is no greater force for good than a neighbor helping a neighbor. And there is no greater intel than a neighbor advising WCK on local needs.
Communities are our superpower. WCK shifts local communities from secondary players to active architects and actors of a more inclusive and ambitious mission. This unique, multi-participant approach transforms the geographic, cultural, and emergency-related challenges of any activation into an opportunity for a faster, more decisive response. It’s an approach that has, and will continue, to allow us to engage a larger and untapped pool of talent. This local connection ensures that our response understands, tastes like, looks like, and speaks like the communities we serve. This fosters a diverse collective where feeding becomes a shared responsibility and passion.
WCK operates in challenging environments, and we will continue to do so. We operate with an “embrace chaos mindset” vs a “peace-time mindset.” Decisions made at any given point during the disaster are the right decisions, with the knowledge at that time. We embrace this thinking and adapt quickly as needed.
WCK does not respond to a set list of disasters or crises. We show up when food access has been disrupted. Our model has worked following a grocery store shooting in Buffalo, NY, a global pandemic, hurricanes, war in Ukraine, etc. We feed people – and when an emergency disrupts access to food, we will be there.
WCK is entrepreneurial and adaptive at tackling predictable and unpredictable situations. WCK will be fearless through successes and failures; move with urgency; remain nimble in our mindset and our systems & structures, creating a fluid environment that can support a growing, evolving organization; and be relentless to the point that we overcome barriers and embody resilience in everything we do.
Each activation is a catalyst for future growth. We learn from adversity and from the communities we serve. The best plan is the plan to adapt – we develop emergent strategies in real time based on situational needs. “Listen to the disaster and it will speak to you.” – José Andrés
Values
At WCK, we operate as Many Kitchens, One Table. World Central Kitchen is a global tapestry of people united by our shared goal of nourishing lives. Our values guide how we show up in our work, from how we collaborate within and across our teams, to how we partner with local food providers, and how we serve communities around the world. As you explore our values, you’ll see the core beliefs that guide our work and the principles that unite us as a team
Access. We strive for just and fair access for all. We commit to diversity, equity, and inclusivity across our organization and in our work.
Adaptability. We are a force for change. We use curiosity, lived experience,
humility, and creativity to inform decision making. We balance observations and
share lessons learned to grow together.
Collaboration. We work as one team helping those we collaborate with and serve
to succeed and thrive. We approach each moment as an opportunity to provide
support, hold each other accountable, and earn trust.
Empathy. We meet people where they are with dignity and respect, building
connections through openness and awareness. We are intentional and mindful of the
impact of our words and actions on others.
Resilience. We take actions that prioritize the well-being and sustainability of our team, the communities we serve, and the natural environment.
