As the fires ravaged our community on January 7, World Central Kitchen (WCK) appeared, serving hope and hot meals to a shell-shocked community.

This is what restaurateur and chef José Andrés envisioned when he launched WCK in 2010 following an earthquake in Haiti: working with a sense of urgency and humanity to provide disaster relief and help devastated communities recover.

WCK was “literally the cavalry when no one else was there,” says Gabby Galvan, owner of the LA-Donut food truck, one of 105 restaurant partners in Los Angeles County that partnered with WCK to feed first responders, evacuees and anyone else affected by the fires. “They continue to amaze me with all that they’ve provided,” she says.

On day one of the fire, the WCK team went into emergency response mode to provide nutritious hot meals that tasted good. “Dignified hot meals,” in the words of Trish Engel, WCK community outreach manager and response lead for the LA Wildfire.

“Whatever the need is, we’ll fill it,” Engel says “We don’t take no for an answer. We make it happen.”

The organization mobilized quickly by contracting with its network of restaurants and food trucks throughout the Los Angeles area. Together, they built a culinary community of support through expanded distribution points and WCK Cafés.

These partnerships happened organically and with purpose.

“I reached out to potentially see if I could somehow help since I knew they had access to the affected areas,” says Galvan, whose friend and fellow food truck owner sent her contact info for WCK. “I was receiving DMs from friends who knew of firemen and hotshots that had no food. I put WCK in contact with them, and from that moment my relationship with WCK began.”

By January 11, she was in her food truck serving lattes, coffee, acai bowls and donuts from 4 to 9am.

Sam Nimri, co-owner of Flaming Grain, felt compelled to help people who lost everything in the fire. “We figured that the least we can do is offer a meal to them and their family,” he says. Flaming Grain served grilled steak or chicken bowls and veggie burrito bowls. When WCK discovered food trucks that had taken the initiative to feed first responders out of their own pockets, they were brought into the fold.

“We said, ‘Come on board with us. Let’s get you paid because you’re already doing such great work for the community,’” says Engel. WCK pays participating food trucks and restaurants per meal distributed. The amount covers the ingredients and labor costs so businesses don’t take a financial hit for their generosity.

“I was surprised at how willing and flexible our restaurant partners have been,” says Andrew Lo, WCK culinary lead for the LA Wildfire activation. “We’d reach out to food trucks, and they’d have to mobilize within 12 hours and they did it. There is no heartier stock than people who run restaurants or are in hospitality,” says Lo, who grew up in a restaurant family.

Baja Cali Fish & Tacos on Lake Avenue in Pasadena transformed into a WCK Café, where they served fish tacos, chicken tacos, chicken al pastor tacos and chicken bowls outside the restaurant.

“We also personally delivered meals to people waiting in the car line across the street where the Pasadena Community Job Center organized donations for the community,” says Jaime Alvarez, who owns the restaurant with Lorena Varela.

Their efforts have made a great impact, with Baja Cali Fish & Taco, LA-Donut and Flaming Grain serving a combined 100,990* meals.

PHASE II

Feeding people hot meals is only part of the WCK model. Now that businesses are opening back up, the team has transitioned to bringing money back into the local economy and supporting the populations still hurting, including those still displaced and the elderly.

“It’s really important to us to support local,” says Engel. “We employ local; we buy local. Those are the businesses that are really struggling right now.”

WCK gave $1,000 gift cards for groceries to employees of devastated restaurants. The nonprofit also buys gift cards from local businesses and restaurants that were closed due to the fires. The gift cards are distributed at farmers’ markets or produce distribution sites.

Farmers have also been caught in the ripple effect. Their clientele was displaced by the fires, and they can’t sell their produce at farmers’ markets on hiatus. To help, WCK buys produce from small, organic farms in Los Angeles and the Santa Barbara area. They purchase enough for 200 produce boxes handed out free at the Topanga Farmers’ Market and distribute boxes to the elderly in Topanga who were directly impacted.

It’s a win-win. People enjoy fresh-picked, nutritious produce, and farmers are paid for their crops.

In Altadena, we’re still seeing a large need for produce,” says Engel. Based on feedback that some recipients are unfamiliar with some of the items, an education piece was added to help people learn how to use the ingredients.

At a yet-to-be-determined date, WCK will phase out its operations and transition the programs to local partner organizations that will continue supporting the community. (See sidebar on page 23.)

The word community fills every conversation with WCK team members and partner businesses. Each mention carried the weight of caring, hope and unity—three qualities always abundant in the Valley.

“Partnering with WCK was an opportunity to give back to a community that has embraced Baja Cali Fish & Tacos since 2017,” says Alvarez. “We’ll always remember WCK’s generosity and seeing a community come together in a time of great need.”

It takes a village. And it also takes a world and the local community.

LONG-TERM SUPPORT

Tricia Engel, WCK community outreach manager and response lead for the LA Wildfire, shared information about the local partner organizations WCK will be transitioning to for long-term community support:

Altadena Neighborhood Farmers’ Market: WCK will continue supporting the farmers’ market by covering the cost of produce so impacted families can continue receiving it. They’re a very small market and were giving away organic produce during the fires so WCK increased their capacity to ensure they could continue, and will maintain their support of the market’s “good work.”

“I also brought Rafa [Gass] who runs the Altadena Neighborhood Farmers’ Market on board with us to connect us to organic and indigenous farmers so they are paid directly,” says Engel. As an aside, Gass lost her home in the Eaton Fire, and there is a GoFundMe page.

Hollywood Food Coalition: WCK hasn’t yet locked down how the two organizations will work together. The coalition is “eager and is also working on long-term feeding plans for fire relief,” says Engel.

Support + Feed: WCK is working very closely with the organization to transition targeted meal drops to hotels where fire-displaced people are living. They are planning longer-term support in the LA area and are applying for a grant to determine the capacity for additional WCK transition.

*As reported on April 2, 2025. To donate to World Central Kitchen visit wck.org/donate.

WCK SUPPORT BY THE NUMBERS FOR LA COUNTY

155,000 POUNDS

Total amount of produce distributed

$348,993

Total support that went directly to local organic farms

$375,000

Grocery gift cards for 375 employees of 29 completely devastated restaurants

$500,000

Gift cards from 100 impacted restaurants to be distributed to impacted community members

$16,772,299

Total financial support for restaurant partners

As reported on March 27, 2025