At DCCK, we know that hunger is a year-round problem. Each year when school is out of session, our Community Meals program ramps up our summer meal production efforts to provide additional meals for students who would normally rely on school meals to stay nourished. This summer, our dedicated staff will prepare 1,700 daily meals for DC youth, on top of our existing 5,000 daily meals prepared and delivered to partner nonprofits.
Throughout the summer you might also see a member of our team at one of the DC Metropolitan Police Department’s weekly Beat the Streets events where we serve as the food service provider, preparing approximately 450 meals for attendees each week. We’re proud to work with MPD to reach out to our city’s youth with positive alternatives, healthy food, and access to job training. In addition, for the second year in a row DCCK’s “Meal Mobile” will serve as the only mobile summer meals provider in the District. Each Friday in partnership with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, our Community Meals team will travel to a different pool recreation center to distribute approximately 100 free meals to kids.
All told, between Beat the Streets, our Meal Mobile, plus our 6,700 daily meals, DC Central Kitchen will prepare and deliver 389,880 meals this summer. Hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation, so neither do we!