I am compelled to admit I knew little about World Central Kitchen (WCK) till last week when Israel attacked three cars in Gaza killing several WCK personnel who were in Gaza helping to feed the starving.

What I have learned since.

WCK is a new model for disaster relief. It is the first to frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate and community crises. When disaster strikes, WCK’s relief team mobilizes to the frontlines with an immediate type urgency and begins cooking to provide meals for people who hunger and are in need of food.

WCK partners with organizations on the ground and activates a network of local restaurants, food trucks, or emergency kitchens. WCK serves comforting meals to survivors of disasters quickly and efficiently. Its belief being that good food provides not only nourishment, but also comfort and hope. Especially in times of crisis.

The organization has provided more than 350 million fresh, nourishing meals for communities around the world.

WCK survives and is able to provide based on donations. Many give to WCK I discovered. Silently and without fanfare. WCK does not sell bibles or sneaks. I also became aware this past week that several persons I know donate to WCK. WCK is worthy of more donations. A true and helpful charity. One providing immediate results when and where needed.

WCK is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization. Founded in 2010. It has provided quickly and generously meals following the Haiti earthquake, Hurricane Harvey in Houston, the 2018 Puna eruption, the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes, Ukraine, and the ongoing Gaza humanitarian crisis.

It has suffered 8 casualties. Deaths. One in the Ukraine and most recently the seven workers during the Israeli invasion of the Gaza strip.

WCK has also provided food assistance in the United States itself. Strange though it may sound. However there have been occasions when such was needed and WCK stood tall with help. Examples include January 2019 when WCK opened a restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., to feed federal workers furloughed during the government shutdown, in March 2020 when it transformed 8 New York City and Washington, D.C. restaurants into soup kitchens to support persons affected by the COVID-19 crisis, in March 2020 in the San Francisco Bay Area when it collaborated with Frontline Foods to deliver meals from local restaurants to local hospital staff affected by COVID-19, in April 2020 when it partnered with the Washington Nationals to use the team’s stadium in Washington, D.C., as a kitchen and distribution facility for free meals.

WCK lost 7 workers last week in Gaza. WCK claims the Israeli killings were “intentional” and “systematic.” The U.N. and the world is upset. Good people doing good things were eliminated. WCK claims Israel knew WCK persons were in the cars. 

The incident has inflamed nations world wide. Involves Biden also. He has openly taken Netanyahu to task. It is becoming increasingly difficult for the U.S. to support Israel when Netanyahu continues to lead Israel in such an abusive manner. Israel today is not the Israel the U.S. has firmly stood by since its inception in the late 1940’s. Netanyahu is not only defecating on Gaza, but also Biden, the U.S. and the U.N. Netanyahu’s time is measured as a result. He cannot continue his abusive conduct of Gaza and not be taken down.

Enjoy your Sunday!