Giving Kitchen, a James Beard Foundation Award-winning nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance and a network of community resources to food service workers in times of crisis, is overjoyed to share the remarkable strides made in the first quarter of 2025, underscoring our unwavering commitment to uplifting food service workers in their times of need.
Quarterly Impact and Achievements
Our food service community has shown significant trust in our work, enabling Giving Kitchen to reach significant milestones:
- 27% increase in Asks For Help (AFH) year-over-year, the initial step in receiving assistance from Giving Kitchen.
- Celebrated serving our 29,000th client, issuing our 8,500th financial assistance award, and awarding our $15 millionth dollar.
- Supported our 20,000th Stability Network client and provided 10,308 months of rent and utility assistance.
Financial Assistance
In Q1, Giving Kitchen provided $777,986.43 in financial assistance through 502 awards, touching the lives of 404 children and 249 additional household members. These funds addressed critical issues, enabling stability and hope:
- Injury: 133 cases
- Illness: 282 cases
- Funeral Needs: 75 cases
- Disaster Relief: 12 cases
Expanding Stability Network
This quarter, GK also partnered with FindHelp.org to enhance access to crucial services nationwide, reinforcing our vision to met crisis with compassion and care by offering dignity and ease in accessing support.
Our Stability Network provided support for 1,685 cases, delivering 6,952 resources tailored to:
- Housing & Utilities: 71.4%
- Employment: 6.7%
- Family & Social Services: 12.4%
- Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder Resources: 5.8%
- Physical Health & Wellness: 3.7%
Client Testimonial
Maria, a steadfast kitchen lead, reflected on her journey:
“As a single mom and kitchen lead, cancer paused my job, but Giving Kitchen stepped in. Their support during my chemo treatments gave me stability, hope, and a safe home. I’m grateful for the care, the real conversations, and the security they’ve given me in this tough time.”
CEO’s Quote
Allison Padilla-Goodman, CEO of Giving Kitchen, remarked on the profound achievements this past quarter:
“Every number Giving Kitchen reports is a person, a family, who found hope and community by working with our organization in their most challenging moment. At Giving Kitchen, our vision has always been to create a community where crisis is met with compassion and care—and centering the care for those who serve is crucial in times like these. It does not surprise me that demand for Giving Kitchen’s service is growing, and I am so proud that we are able to shine light on those in need and give hope through a helping hand.”
Q1 Event Highlights
We celebrated together at Team Hidi 2025, Giving Kitchen’s signature event for over a decade. Team Hidi came about when Atlanta Chef Ryan Hidinger was diagnosed with late-stage cancer in December 2012. It was Ryan’s journey – the groundswell of support by his industry – that ignited the formation of Giving Kitchen. Hidi’s legacy lives through Giving Kitchen and our mission to provide stability to food service workers. Food and beverage tastings, auctions, musicians, and stories from our clients make Team Hidi Giving Kitchen’s biggest and most-anticipated event every year.
Our shared determination and community spirit were on full display with over $1.15 million raised – enough to cover 917 months of rent, equivalent to the length of 253,938 baseball games! 111 Food and Beverage Partners and 1,500 attendees came together at Truist Park, showcasing the culinary community of Atlanta and celebrating industry members.
In February, Chicago embraced our mission with open hearts as we launched Giving Kitchen’s mission with culinary members and supporters. Learn more about these events and our Chicago launch.
To join us at upcoming events and fundraisers, visit Giving Kitchen Events.
For further details on our quarterly and annual achievements, please visit Giving Kitchen’s Impact.
