American Legion’s Jim Cragg (center) with members of the World Central Kitchen at the Post on La Cruz in Pacific Palisades.
The World Central Kitchen (WCK) was one of the first nonprofits on the scene in Pacific Palisades after the January 7 fire. After three months on the scene, providing hot meals to first responders, construction crews, the National Guard and residents, they are headed to a new mission.
This editor remembers standing by what was left of her house shortly after the fire, when a car drove by. The driver stopped and asked, “Have you had lunch?”
“No,” she responded.
“Would you like something?” he said and then handed her a bowl of rice with chicken.
No clothes, no possessions and no home, the kindness of someone giving out food was almost overwhelming.
I later learned that the food came from the World Central Kitchen, which was founded by Chef Jose Andres.
On the website https://wck.org/story, it is explained that World Central Kitchen started with a simple idea between Andres and his wife Patricia: when people are hungry, send in cooks. Not tomorrow, today.”
With the group’s volunteers, they know that its more than the food they are serving, that it is “a sign that someone cares.”
His mission started in 2010, when he went to Haiti following a devastating earthquake. After feeding people, the organization focused on longer-term solutions around food in the Caribbean and Central America. After several years, José and WCK built and opened École des Chefs, a culinary school in Port-au-Prince.
But in 2017, after Hurricane Harvey hit Houston and a month later Hurricane Maria hit, he mobilized chefs who responded to the disaster with meals. WCK would go on to serve nearly 4 million fresh meals in the aftermath of María.
World Central Kitchen teams across the world remain deeply committed to serving delicious, chef-prepared meals to people with the dignity they deserve.
Past American Legion Commander Jim Cragg posted on Facebook, “World Central Kitchen – sorry to see you go! Todd and Li have been providing free meals at the American Legion Palisades Wildfire Community Support Center since the beginning.
“WCK purchased 200-300 meals from local restaurants like Palisades Garden Cafe and passed them out to civilians, first responders and National Guard,” Cragg said. “We at the Legion appreciated their work and enjoyed their camaraderie. We at the Legion are considering taking up the task of buying and distributing meals, but probably at a smaller scale.
One resident wrote: “A World Class organization. Hooray for Jose Andres who is the founder. Support him and his wonderful ‘Family of workers’ that help people all over the World in disaster situations.”
Another resident said, “I can’t say enough about this organization. World class, I enjoyed many hot meals after a long day of dealing with everything that you have to deal with after a natural disaster hits your town and turns your life upside down.”