World Central Kitchen, the non-profit foodservice organisation founded by chef José Andrés has been active in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, serving hot food both to people fleeing the country and those within its borders. But on Saturday April 16, one of its restaurants in Kharkiv was destroyed by a missile strike.
World Central Kitchen partners with local restaurants and chefs to provide feeding systems during various crises, and the organisation has been on the ground in and near Ukraine since the first day of the war.
It says it’s served 11 million meals in the country so far, and that in Kharkiv it has been “delivering tens of thousands of meals daily in the city and surrounding regions to bomb shelters, hospitals, churches, seniors, and people trapped on the front lines.”
It is believed the restaurant team in Kharkiv has moved all non-damaged food products and equipment to another kitchen location.
Andrés also tweeted about the strike. “To everyone caring and sending good wishes to the team in Kharkiv, thank you, the injured are fine, and everyone is ready and willing to start cooking in another location,” he wrote. “All our friends are TRUE heroes! Many ways to fight, we do it with food!”
