CK meal programs
food justice = food security + access + dignity
Community Kitchens offers a free, accessible community meal program for Oakland’s most underserved community members. Our priority is to feed people left behind by other food programs and to build community and solidarity through food.
To promote food justice, we focus on equal dignity and equal access. Our founding principle “Meals With Dignity” means we proudly serve the same meals we would serve our family, to warm not only the body, but also the spirit. Our Community Partners and CK Mobile Oasis deliver our meals directly to our unhoused community.
unhoused outreach
We believe food is a basic human right
Our founding meal program continues to be our top priority as we hone our meal distribution to better serve the special needs of Oakland’s unhoused individuals and families. We tailor our menus to the cultural preferences of our clients, providing choice of meal and weekly specials driven by their feedback. Working with trusted community groups, our clients are better served with our “Meals Plus” model where our quality meals are a bridge to other services and support.
We serve our meals directly to curbside community improving access.
youth programs
Filling in gaps to feed our kids
Our Youth Meal Program was founded in 2020 working Kerry’s Kids, a mobile medical nonprofit that supports unhoused families with young children. We filled in the gap by providing hot meals to families living in cars and hotel rooms.
We expanded with our Oakland Parks and Recreation’s Town Camp “Kitchens Around the World” meal program addressing food insecurity, while also teaching kids about different cultures. We also support OUSD Saturday Sports Camp, Homies Empowerment’s Youth Breakfast Program, Trybe’s After School programming at San Antonio Park and the ELP bus.
town fridges
building community & solidarity through food
Town Fridges is a grassroots effort supporting publicly accessible refrigerators located in food deserts and high-poverty neighborhoods throughout Oakland where residents in need can find fresh and prepared food on a self-serve basis.
We stock a network Town Fridges throughout Oakland.
text-based meal alerts
connecting directly with the people
At the White House Conference Listening Sessions we conducted in 2022, we heard that our unhoused struggled with finding a central source of information on where to find prepared meals.
In response, we launched our CK Text-Based communication platform providing meal alerts to our community to let them know when and where our meals are served. It also provides our clients a way to provide us with feedback. Most importantly we are building a network for getting input directly from the people on the programs we are building.
DINERS
Dining for Justice, just one penny for every dollar spent
CENTRAL KITCHEN
Cook meals
Culinary Job Training
COMMUNITY ORGS
Distribute meals
Provide other support and services
Connected and trusted
MEAL PROGRAMS
Unhoused, Town Fridges, Low-Income Youth, Families and Seniors