DCCK’s volunteer coordinator receives Community Champion Award

On May 14, DCCK’s Volunteer Coordinator, Jessica, was publicly honored with the Capital One Bank Community Champions Award during halftime of the Mystics game.

The Mystics and Capital One Bank are working together to recognize our local DC heroes. At every Mystics home game this season, Capital One bank is honoring individuals who make a lasting difference on their community.

If you’ve ever volunteered with DC Central Kitchen before, you’ve likely met and worked with Jessica. As our Volunteer Coordinator, Jessica leads over 15,000 annual volunteers in helping to prepare 5,000 meals that we deliver each day to homeless shelters and partner nonprofits throughout DC.

Jessica approaches her current role with enthusiasm, and a unique perspective for visiting volunteers. She first arrived at DC Central Kitchen in 2011 as a court-ordered volunteer before enrolling as a student in the Culinary Job Training program. Later that year, soon after graduating from the 14-week training program, she was eager to return to DC Central Kitchen as an employee. She joined us full-time as a receptionist and has since been promoted twice, first to a Human Resources Assistant, and then in 2015 to her current role managing the volunteer program.

It’s no surprise to us why Jessica was honored with a Community Champion Award – we see the dedication and tenacity with which she approaches her job every day. But this recognition is just as meaningful for DCCK as it is for Jessica. The Capital One Foundation has been a longstanding supporter of our work for several years. Through their financial support of our Culinary Job Training program, Capital One allowed us to operate three to four additional classes of our Culinary Job Training program each year, beginning in 2014. This innovative capacity building partnership was also one of five projects featured in a recent report from the Aspen Institute’s Workforce Strategies Initiative.

Volunteer Bill of Rights

All volunteers have the right to:

  • Work in a safe environment
  • Be treated with respect by all staff members
  • Be engaged in meaningful work and be actively included regardless of any physical limitations
  • Be told what impact your work made in the community
  • Ask any staff member questions about our work
  • Provide feedback about your experience
  • Receive a copy of our financial information or annual report upon request.

Community Service

DC Central Kitchen provides opportunities for volunteers to complete service hours related to a legal matter during our regularly scheduled volunteer shifts. Candidates participating in this service for DCCK are prohibited from enrolling in our community service program if they have the following charges or convictions: assault, sexual assault, weapons charge, unlawful entry, destruction of property or disorderly conduct.
Community Service volunteers must contact Director of Guest Experience (202) 851-4207 or jmcintyre@dccentralkitchen.org or the Guest Experience Manager ( to confirm your service dates and times. A volunteer account can be created online for community service volunteers, and hours will be reported based on the shifts you are checked in for within the Volunteer Portal.
Community Service volunteers can only work at the Klein Center for Jobs and Justice (2121 First St, SW). We can accept no more than 10 court-ordered volunteers at a time. All community service volunteers are required to inform the Reception desk that you are volunteering for service hours upon check-in and should sign the Community Service Log for each visit.
Once you complete your required hours, you will receive a letter of completion and a confirmation of the number of hours completed. Your service opportunity can be terminated at any time for failure to abide by DC Central Kitchen’s regulations. Grounds for discontinuation of service include but are not limited to displaying a disruptive behavior or attitude; failing to adhere to DCCK’s dress code; or failing to show up for assigned shifts on time.