Our Favorite Stories of 2025

DC Central Kitchen

2025 was a year unlike any other in our 36-year history, one full of unexpected challenges and growing community needs. But the way we responded was just what we know you expect from DC Central Kitchen. We stepped up every single day—thanks to you.

Feeding first responders after the tragic plane crash in the Potomac. Reimagining our Healthy Corners program to extend SNAP benefits for thousands of families. Delivering more meals to homebound seniors and veterans. Growing our Culinary Job Training program. It’s been twelve relentless months of fighting for the future of DC.

Here are some of the powerful stories that YOU made possible in 2025, and with your help we’ll do even more in the new year. Thank you!

A DC Central Kitchen worker prepares meals for distribution.

JANUARY – Always Open: An Inauguration Story

FEBRUARY – WUSA9: Making nearly 1,000 meals for first responders

Healthy Corners fridge

MARCH – The Washington Informer: DC Central Kitchen expands SNAP match at DC corner stores

50% Off for All Impacted Federal Employees and Government Contractors at DC Central Kitchen Cafes

MARCH – Business Insider: DC Central Kitchens Cafes support federal workers

DC Central Kitchen Culinary Job Training graduation

APRIL – WTOP: Class 171 celebrates with new knife skills and life skills

MAY – ABC7: DC Central Kitchen and DoorDash expand meal delivery for vets

JUNE – WUSA9: Commanders and Major Tuddy team up with DC Central Kitchen to serve healthy lunch to DC students

DC Central Kitchen Culinary Job Training graduates

JULY – The Washington Informer: “This isn’t just about job training, it’s about life transformation.”

DC Central Kitchen Healthy Corners employees

SEPTEMBER – Healthy Corners’ Largest Store Transformation in its 14-Year History

DC Central Kitchen van

OCTOBER – Mother Jones: The Shutdown Is Pushing Federal Workers to Food Banks—Just as SNAP Is Set to Expire

DC Central Kitchen's 2025 Capital Food Fight

NOVEMBER – ABC7: Capital Food Fight supports DCCK and lifts up local chefs

NOVEMBER – PBS News Hour: “When the chips are down, it’s emergency food providers like DC Central Kitchen who are asked to find ways to do more.”

DC Central Kitchen volunteers

DECEMBER – 2025: A Monumental Year

Donate By Check

Please mail your check donation to DC Central Kitchen’s deposit box at:

Mail this form with your donation to ensure we have all the information needed to provide a tax receipt for your gift.

Our deposit box is the most direct and safest way to send your donation to DC Central Kitchen. Donations received at this PO box are immediately deposited into our bank account, allowing us to put your donation to work right away.

Donate Food

Thank you for considering DC Central Kitchen for your food donation! We greatly appreciate your generosity. We accept food donations with an emphasis on produce and proteins. These ingredients give our chefs the most flexibility to create healthy, complete meals to prepare for our community partners. Please contact us before dropping off any donation to ensure we can accept and utilize the items. See below for more information on how to donate. 

Please contact foodrecovery@dccentralkitchen.org to schedule a food donation delivery or pick-up. In your email, please include: 

First Name: 

Last Name: 

Company/ Organization (if applicable): 

Email: 

Phone Number: 

Description of food: 

Quantity or pounds of food:  

Pick up or drop off: 

Pick up address: 

Date and time food is available: 

Pictures

Please contact us BEFORE dropping off any donation.

Other Ways To Donate

Monthly donations provide a steady stream of support for our year-round programs. Set up a hassle-free, automated monthly or quarterly donation to DC Central Kitchen using our online donation form.

Recurring donations are automatically charged each month on the day you made your first gift (so if you made your first gift on November 12, your next gift will be charged on December 12). We will send you an annual giving statement for your tax purposes in January of each year. Easily change your gift amount, payment date, or frequency via email at giving@dccentralkitchen.org or phone at 202-847-0222.

Please direct your Donor Advised Fund (DAF) grant to be mailed to DC Central Kitchen’s deposit box. Funds sent to this PO box are deposited immediately, so we can put your donation to work right away. DC Central Kitchen’s Tax Identification Number (TIN) is 52-1584936.

DC Central Kitchen
PO Box 417406
Boston, MA 02241-7406

Donors using Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable or BNY Mellon: please use the convenient DAF Direct link to designate a gift to DC Central Kitchen.

DC Central Kitchen accepts gifts of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. Donating securities is easy and you receive a two-part benefit of receiving an immediate tax deduction and avoiding capital gains tax. The amount of your gift will be determined by the value on the day it is transferred into DC Central Kitchen’s account.

To make a gift of stock, please contact us for the necessary information to arrange for a transfer of securities into DC Central Kitchen’s brokerage account. Please email giving@dccentralkitchen.org or call 202-847-0222.

Make fighting hunger differently part of your lasting legacy by including DC Central Kitchen in your estate plans. There are many ways to include DC Central Kitchen in your estate plans, including through your will, revocable trust, retirement plan, or life insurance policy. Planned gifts can accommodate your lifestyle now while securing a stronger future for DC Central Kitchen. Read more about ways to include DC Central Kitchen in your estate plans.

If you have included DC Central Kitchen in your estate plans, please let us know! We’re eager to recognize your commitment in the Legacy of Change Society. Please email giving@dccentralkitchen.org or call 202-847-0221.

DESIGNATE DC CENTRAL KITCHEN

Support DC Central Kitchen through your workplace giving campaign.
United Way #8233
Combined Federal Campaign #67538

REQUEST A MATCHING GIFT

Many workplaces will match donations made by employees. Contact your HR department to see if your donation to DC Central Kitchen is eligible for a matching grant.

Note: DC Central Kitchen is not able to accept donations through PayPal or the PayPal Giving Fund. Any donations designated to DC Central Kitchen made through PayPal or the PayPal Giving Fund will be redirected to another nonprofit (see the PayPal Giving Fund’s Donation Delivery Policy).

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.