A Day in the Life of a MealDC Central Kitchen produces over 5,000 meals each day that are distributed to over 100 partner agencies throughout DC, including homeless shelters, rehabilitation clinics, and afterschool programs. This slideshow explains each step of the process from acquiring food donations to turning that food into healthy meals and distributing those meals to our partner agencies.

1. Picking up the DonationDC Central Kitchen trucks pick up unused food donated from local restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, local farms, and events. Here’s one of our trucks picking up food from Nationals Park.

2. UnloadingOnce the truck returns to DC Central Kitchen, the food is quickly unloaded.

3. StorageSome food items, like bread rolls, can be sent out right away with that day’s meal. Other foods that need to be prepared, such as produce items, are put directly into storage to be used in the following day’s meal.

4. Food PreparationThe bulk of the food preparation that happens for each meal is done by DC Central Kitchen’s incredible volunteers, over 12,000 each year. It would not be possible for us to produce all the meals without them!

4. Food Preparation (Continued)Volunteers peel and chop vegetables and assist DC Central Kitchen staff to produce meals.

5. Meal PackagingOnce the meal has been prepared, it is placed in the containers that it will be sent in to DC Central Kitchen’s 100 partner agencies.

5. Meal Packaging (Continued)The containers are then put in insolated carriers with the menu of the day.

6. DistributionOur trucks then distribute the meals to our agencies feeding thousands of low income DC residents.

Combating Hunger, Creating Opportunity

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