WCK opens Mayotte Field Kitchen
World Central Kitchen has been tirelessly working to provide meals to communities impacted by Cyclone Chido in Mayotte. Over the past four weeks, we have served more than 168,000 meals by working alongside about 50 restaurant partners. Now, our team is cooking at our own Field Kitchen, allowing us to further scale operations and reach more people in need.
On our first day of cooking at the WCK kitchen, our team prepared a flavorful chicken curry with turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and peppercorns, served with jasmine rice. Rice, a staple of the local diet, features prominently in our meals. We’ve partnered with a group of women cooks who ensure the food we serve is culturally appropriate and comforting.
Beyond our new kitchen, we are collaborating with local restaurants across Mayotte, collectively serving more than 18,000 meals daily. Despite the extensive damage caused by Cyclone Chido, these community-based partners are providing vital support across the archipelago.
Our team is sourcing locally as much as possible while also supplementing our widespread need with hundreds of pallets of ingredients and kitchen essentials from mainland Africa and Europe. These shipments travel through a complex network of trucks, planes, and ships before reaching our teams in Mayotte.
We are adapting and expanding outreach efforts to meet the needs of communities. This includes implementing innovative solutions, such as a large-scale water filtration system that recycles water for cleaning and dishwashing.
Our team is working alongside local associations and community leaders to facilitate safe and efficient food distribution. As our kitchen capacity grows, we remain steadfast in our commitment to serve the people of Mayotte impacted by Cyclone Chido.
