MISSION & VISION
more equitable and just food ecosystems
Being founded by chefs and restaurateurs, we are conscious of the non-nutritious value of food. The psychological impacts of having a delicious meal that warms the body and the soul. The social impacts of food in how a meal brings people together. Being founded in Oakland, we are conscious of the diverse needs of our community and the historic institutionalized discrimination and racism that have led to dramatic inequalities in our community today.
In the neighborhoods we serve, over half the people are going to bed hungry at night. Our mission to is to build new sustainable, equitable and community-centric foodways that are driven by the voice of the people.
Community-centric
bringing together our whole community
Community Kitchens’ founding principle is to unify and bring together our whole community to build stronger and more resilient foodways to support and uplift our underserved community members and businesses. We bring together:
35 Dining for Justice Restaurants where diners raise funds for meals
50 Restaurant Meal Partners helping uplift their businesses, prioritizing BIPOC owned and restaurants in underserved neighborhoods
12+ Community Organizations distributing a “Meals Plus” model where our quality meals build trust and are a bridge to other services
100 Volunteer Home Chefs preparing home cooked meals every day
OUR IMPACT
We believe food is a basic human right
Our meals go out every day to meet the needs of Oakland’s underserved neighbors who are without other means to find that one meal every day. While we provide 10,000 meals a month, our program has broader community impact.
Promoting community connection rather than increasing marginalization
Filling in gaps in our current public benefits programs
Uplifting Community Groups by providing stable meal schedules helping them focus on their core mission
Supporting BIPOC owned and restaurants in underserved neighborhoods
Leading advocacy with our unified community coalition to make long term change
prioritizing accessiblity
meeting our community where they are at
Our unhoused community is pushed to the outskirts of Oakland and are spending on average 3-5 hours a day walking to access basic services. Community Kitchens’ Mobile Oasis is a new food-justice tool launched in October 2022 that takes a novel and uniquely Oakland approach to getting food and water to those in our community who lack enough of either. Inspired by ice cream trucks, it is designed to be noticed when it comes into the neighborhood with meals and water. The retrofitted and local artist painted school bus will play distinctive music designed by local musicians to let communities know when Community Kitchens’ high-quality meals are available for anyone who needs them.
How We Work
FROM DINING ROOMS TO CURBSIDES
We bring together our whole community to transform restaurant dining from purely a private indulgence into an act of sharing and helping the less fortunate. The 1% surcharge on guest checks in our partner restaurants pays for our ingredients, the labor to prepare them, and for the hand-distribution of hot meals to those that need them. Community Kitchens collects these funds from our restaurant partners who also help to prepare the meals at cost. Once prepared, our meals are picked up by our community distribution partners who deliver meals along with a range of other services including medical, sanitation, water and other homeless services.
DINERS
Dining for Justice, just one penny for every dollar spent
RESTAURANTS
Cook meals
Generate funds
COMMUNITY ORGS
Distribute meals
Frontline healers
Connected and trusted
MEAL PROGRAMS
Unhoused, Youth and Community Building
Fill in Gaps - Healthy warm meals
Bridge to other public benefits & services