World Central Kitchen: Three years of support for Ukraine

On March 1, 2025, it marked three years since the start of the humanitarian mission of the international organization World Central Kitchen (WCK) in Ukraine. This was the organization’s first mission in a conflict zone, which later became the largest in WCK's history. During this time, the organization’s team, together with a network of over 500 local partners, provided 276 million meals to Ukrainians affected by the war. A number of significant programs were also implemented, such as:

• Delivery of more than 10 million food kits across the country.
• Distribution of over 500,000 vegetable kits and more than 200,000 seed kits.
• Provision of 109,000 tons of food and 7.8 million liters of water.
• Reaching over 3,000 settlements and supporting more than 10,000 aid distribution points.

The WCK mission in Ukraine began with the first hot meal served on February 27, 2022, in Polish Rzeszów and at the Ukrainian border. Over the following weeks, the organization set up field kitchens and food points in Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia, and directly in Ukraine, providing hot meals to people at transit points and temporary shelters for internally displaced persons.

By the end of 2022, the organization had provided more than 42 million hot meals. As the humanitarian situation in the country remained difficult, WCK adapted its strategy, expanding its support programme.

Key areas of WCK's work in Ukraine:

• Hot Meals – preparation and distribution of food through a network of Ukrainian restaurants in frontline communities and evacuation areas.
• Food Packages – delivery of basic products to remote settlements with limited access to stores.
• Vegetable Program – supply of locally grown vegetables for preparing traditional Ukrainian dishes, as well as providing seeds for personal cultivation.
• Community Kitchens – establishment of kitchens in temporary accommodation centers for displaced persons, providing necessary equipment and food.
• Emergency Response – provision of food and water after attacks on civilian infrastructure, in collaboration with the State Emergency Service (SES).
• Crisis Assistance – one of the important stages in the organization’s work was its rapid response to the crisis caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023. As a result of the flood, the WCK team delivered over 1.5 million meals to affected regions, including hot meals, bread, and water.

Current Activities:

Today, WCK continues to actively work in frontline areas and in communities hosting displaced persons. The organization provides more than 200,000 meals weekly within the country, ensuring food support for those who need it most.

About World Central Kitchen:

Founded in 2010 by chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen (WCK) is the first to respond to humanitarian, climate, and social crises by offering food and working on creating resilient food systems with locally-driven solutions. WCK has provided over 100 million fresh meals to people affected by natural disasters and other crises worldwide. WCK's sustainability programs strengthen food security and nutrition, train chefs and school cooks, promote safe cooking technologies, provide grants to farms, fisheries, and small food enterprises, and offer opportunities for education and collaboration.