DC Central Kitchen

Founded in 1989 by Robert Egger, DC Central Kitchen imagined an innovative model for the traditional soup kitchen by combating hunger, addressing the cycle of poverty, and removing barriers to employment. Its inventive programs offer the Washington community fundamental and transformative job training and job creation. The organization also provides nutritious meals and healthy food options to food-insecure residents, corner stores in underserved communities, and local schools.

For 30 years, the Culinary Job Training program has been a cornerstone of DC Central Kitchen's mission. It gives students hands-on-training with certified culinary instructors and self-empowerment sessions to extend personal and professional growth. Many graduates of the program are hired in kitchens and restaurants in the Washington area, while others find work in supporting the range of social service and social enterprise initiatives run by DC Central Kitchen itself. Whether preparing daily meals for school children, expanding access to healthy meals in food deserts, or training men and women with essential job skills, DC Central Kitchen is achieving its mission "to use food as a tool to strengthen bodies, empower minds, and build communities."