Minnesota Central Kitchen
Minnesota Central Kitchen brings together restaurants, caterers and hunger-fighting organizations to tackle hunger and layoffs brought on by the coronavirus. Empowering our state’s hospitality professionals to keep working at what they do best — feeding hungry people — despite restaurant closures, the initiative also responds to the growing need for food assistance in the state.
Make a donation benefiting MCK
The effort is led by Second Harvest Heartland; core partners Chowgirls Catering and Loaves & Fishes; and a growing coalition of restaurants and food service partners including The Bachelor Farmer, Restaurant Alma and United Health Group. Powered by partners’ kitchen space, staff, supplies, and expertise, Minnesota Central Kitchen will prepare, package and distribute up to 10,000 individual and family-style takeout meals per day to hungry Minnesotans. Takeout meals are distributed daily at Loaves & Fishes dining sites.
- Commercial kitchens with food to donate can submit information via MealConnect
- Non-food items – like cleaning supplies, gloves and thermometers to regularly check kitchen staff’s temperatures – can be coordinated by emailing donation@chowgirls.net.
A sampling of recent media stories about Minnesota Central Kitchen
- 3/19/2020 Minnesota's Central Kitchen forms to provide meals for those in need
- 3/19/2020 Minnesota Central Kitchen: Twin Cities Live
- 3/18/2020 5 Eyewitness News teams up with Minnesota Central Kitchen
- 3/18/2020 Minnesota restaurants are closed, but their cooks are still feeding those in need
- 3/18/2020 Minnesota’s Central Kitchen: Chefs, Second Harvest Heartland collab to combat hunger
Contact Elizabeth Cooper, Director of Brand Strategy and Communications
ecooper@2harvest.org
Direct: 651-209-7913
Mobile: 612-963-6791
“In this time of uncertainty, the basic human need of being fed has come to the forefront of this crisis. Chowgirls is honored to partner with Second Harvest Heartland to turn our space into Minnesota Central Kitchen. We will be reaching out to our food and hospitality industry friends to help us donate food, volunteers to help prepare meals and use their talents to feed our community. I have been amazed with the outpour of support already and feel privileged to be a part of this amazing effort.”
— Liz Mullen, Executive Chef, Chowgirls Killer Catering
