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With the future often feeling uncertain, we are clinging to the stories of hope that make us feel so proud to work alongside our great community of members. I can’t even count the number of times I have witnessed businesses sharing tips for the best truck spots, lending out ingredients to another member, or just offering a helping hand with getting that dish just right! In the midst of this moment in time, we at Seattle Commissary Kitchen have even more to be proud of. So here are four short stories of our members giving back:
Food to the Frontlines:
When Honest to Goodness approached us for a short term partnership over their Cooks for a Cause fundraiser we said, “You bring the ingredients and culinary talent, and the kitchen is all yours!” Donating our commissary space to feed frontline workers at Swedish Medical Center Ballard was a no-brainer. What resulted through the fundraising efforts of Honest to Goodness and their customers was 200 meals in ONE DAY. Yes, you read that right. The small but mighty team filled our space with the delicious smell of fresh food ready to nourish the bodies, and hopefully souls, of these medical professionals. Honest to Goodness put it best, “Well, we know the power of nutritious, high quality food; from increased energy levels and bolstered immunity, to elevated mood and increased focus. But when folks are stressed and overworked, they understandably turn to quick, processed foods, and this can take a toll on their health.” The Honest to Goodness team helped meet the basic needs of those heroes who have put so much on the line and we are just thrilled to have been able to play a small part. To read more about Cooks for a Cause check out their website.
From Our Community to Yours:
Essential workers are not the only people for whom the pandemic has resulted in challenges accessing healthy and consistent meals. And when concerns over meals for our neighbors came to us, here is the way our members responded.
For the 80 families living in the Ronald McDonald House, strict quarantine is essential to protect their children. But it’s not easy to feed picky eaters off take-out alone. Two of our members, Amazing Lunches and Fork Fin (Trident Foods), responded by providing kid-friendly and nourishing, ready-to-eat meals in partnership with a local non-profit Side-by-Side. All meals were made in the safety of our kitchen and individually packaged. We can definitively say, we’ve never had cuter customers then those kiddos!
Beyond the Table:
As we have all learned through this time, it's often the most vulnerable in our community that are hit the hardest. This virus disproportionately affects our unhoused neighbors. Food safety is one line of defense in the efforts to keep folks safe from exposure. With this in mind, Brothers & Co. provided and delivered 275 meals in partnership with the Chief Seattle Club and Northwest Harvest that were both safe AND tasty! We have seen the way a nourishing meal can make all the difference and Brothers & Co. meals are definitely comfort food.
When we show prospective members around our kitchens, we always make sure to mention that they are not just joining a physical space, but a warm, collaborative community. I can now confidently share that the SCK family extends far beyond the kitchen walls.
Food for Thought:
Seattle is in the middle of a chapter of reflection and action to support the racial justice movement. Two of our members are bringing their skills to the table, and becoming a part of the conversation.
Long time member Off the Rez has teamed up with Sweet Alchemy Ice Creamery, Pot Pie Factory and Intentionalist to create a custom ice cream: ‘Vegan Do This Together’. All profits from this delectable Vegan coconut ice cream (with lemon curd, jam and pie crust crumble) go straight into community non-profits fighting for racial justice. Orders can be placed through Sept.6. We love to see our members use their culinary powers for good!
Newcomers Guava to the People are also using creativity to be people of hope in the fight for racial justice. Inspired by the desire to serve the BIPOC and QTPOC communities, the Guava to the People business model was born. A portion of profits go toward monetary donations to (QT)BIPOC organizations, a portion toward subsidizing donated Pastelitos delivered directly to the community, and a portion to growth and the continuing commitment to (QT)BIPOC activism and education. Imagine, all of that baked into the deliciousness of a sweet or savory Cuban Pastelito!
It’s always inspiring to see the way our community adapts and listens to both the hearts and stomachs of their customers. And this is only the beginning. We have to say we can’t wait to see what comes next!
We trust these stories have inspired hope the way they did for our SCK family. And if a big idea comes to your mind, we are all ears.