15 Years of Impact: A Mission Born in Haiti
In 2010, a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Chef José Andrés traveled to the country to see how he could use his culinary experience to support impacted communities. What he saw and heard inspired him to rethink how food could be a powerful tool to nourish families after crises, rebuild communities, and create sustainable solutions. The eye-opening trip would become the origin of World Central Kitchen.
More than 200,000 people died in the earthquake, which also displaced millions and left countless Haitians in desperate need of food and aid. In the aftermath, José listened to the local community and began organizing efforts to provide nourishing, culturally appropriate meals to people in need, recognizing that food is more than sustenance—it’s a plate of hope on our darkest days.
“Shortly after the earthquake I arrived in Haiti to see how chefs like me could put our skills to the service of others,” José said, recalling his time in Haiti. “From there, WCK was born. 15 years later we have cooked and served alongside the people of the world in their most difficult moments.”
WCK has developed a distinctive, community-first approach to food aid. Our model, rooted in our Haiti origins, provides nourishing meals immediately after disaster strikes while simultaneously supporting local economies to kickstart recovery. Since 2010, we have served more than 450 million meals worldwide.
In the years immediately following the earthquake in Haiti, WCK focused on impactful culinary training and clean cooking programs whose results are still felt today. But in 2017, when Hurricane Harvey struck Houston, WCK took swift action, preparing meals on the ground. A month later, Hurricane María devastated Puerto Rico. José flew to San Juan, began cooking sancocho in a small kitchen, and quickly built a network of chefs, food trucks, and volunteers—launching #ChefsForPuertoRico.
Since then, WCK has responded to hundreds of crises worldwide, from natural disasters to humanitarian emergencies. We’ve served meals to Ukrainian families impacted by war, Palestinians displaced in Gaza, hospital staff during COVID-19, and communities affected by climate-driven disasters on six continents. Wherever we go, WCK empowers the local community to lead the way, showing how the best of humanity emerges in the worst of times.
WCK has maintained a deep connection with Haiti. We have responded to natural disasters, food insecurity, and other crises in the country, always focusing on the needs of impacted communities. The network we built over the years allows us to respond immediately.
Haiti’s story is one of resilience, and WCK remains committed to standing alongside its people. What began as an urgent response to disaster has evolved into a global mission to be first to the frontlines when disaster strikes, ensuring nourishing meals reach people in need.
“When we go into a community, we never tell them, ‘This is what you need to eat, this is what you want.’ Instead we come with open ears and a deep hunger to learn from them,” José said recalling what he learned in Haiti.
For WCK, Haiti isn’t just a place where we work—it’s where our mission to use the power of food to heal and strengthen communities truly began. We have learned to adapt and build responses unique to each situation and location, always remaining deeply committed to serving delicious, chef-prepared meals to people with dignity.
As disasters increase in frequency and intensity, we’ll continue to be there—and we hope you’ll join us. As José likes to say:“Everyone is a part of World Central Kitchen, they may just not know it yet!”
