Giving the Gift of Clean Water Through World Central Kitchen
World Central Kitchen installed a purification system in the community of Ceilan, Guatemala, which lies near the top of the Fuego volcano
Bon Appétit’s philosophy of “food service for a sustainable future” has always extended beyond the walls of our cafés, from reaching out to the farms that supply our kitchens and later to the larger world of farmworkers in America and beyond; to addressing the health of the oceans’ fisheries; and much more.
Every year, as our holiday thank-you to our clients, Bon Appétit makes a donation on their behalf to a food-related nonprofit. Last year the recipient was the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, to establish the Food Justice and Equity Scholarship Fund for Farming Apprentices of Color. Previous beneficiaries have included Wholesome Wave, the Farmer-Veteran Coalition, FoodCorps, the Main Street Project, and College Assistance Migrant Program.
This year, on behalf of our clients, Bon Appétit is giving the most precious gift there is — clean drinking water.
World Central Kitchen, this year’s recipient, was founded by renowned chef and humanitarian (and Bon Appétit Management Company partner) José Andrés on the belief that food can be an agent of change in the areas of health, education, jobs, social enterprise, and disaster relief around the world. World Central Kitchen marshals chefs, other volunteers, and resources to feed victims of natural disasters.
“José and World Central Kitchen have been just incredible in their help for communities around the world,” says CEO Fedele Bauccio. “They went to Puerto Rico to help the victims of Hurricane Maria, and to California to cook Thanksgiving for the victims of the fires.”
Bon Appétit’s gift to World Central Kitchen will be used to purchase 25 mobile water-purification systems. Each purifier has a three-stage filtration system that can provide clean drinking water for 250 people per day. These devices were used both in Puerto Rico and in Guatemala following the eruption of the Fuego volcano. They are easy to set up and will make it possible for communities to survive while services are restored.
“I am proud to be a partner of Bon Appétit Management Company – Fedele has been such a strong supporter of World Central Kitchen and the work we have been doing to help feed people around the world. In the words of John Steinbeck, ‘Wherever there is a fight so hungry people can eat, we will be there!’” says José.
Hear more from José in the video below, and please join us supporting this wonderful organization.