BALTIMORE, MD (Wednesday, December 23, 2020) — Mayor Brandon M. Scott and World Central Kitchen (WCK) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to help secure funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist in the response to food insecurity faced by families in Baltimore during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I have no doubt that Baltimoreans will directly benefit from the City’s partnership with World Central Kitchen,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “This pandemic has exacerbated our challenges with food insecurity in Baltimore. This partnership will allow us to continue this critical work of feeding our neighbors, working hand-in-hand with our restaurants and communities.”

The MOU will allow World Central Kitchen to continue its work in Baltimore through existing federal funding sources as private funds run low — and partner with more small restaurants to continue producing fresh meals for residents in need.

Since April, WCK has worked in Baltimore alongside local community partners, serving nearly 650,000 meals to city residents. As part of its Restaurants for the People initiative, World Central Kitchen  paid local Baltimore restaurants to prepare 170,000 fresh meals for distribution, not only helping families in need, but also supporting local restaurants struggling during the pandemic.

“I lived in Baltimore for many years, and it's a place I consider home,” said WCK CEO Nate Mook. “World Central Kitchen is proud to support Baltimore residents, and is grateful that the city’s leadership shares our vision that a powerful solution to the ongoing health, economic and humanitarian crises is to work with restaurants to prepare nutritious meals for food-insecure families. We know that a hot plate of food is so much more than just a meal — it’s a sign to the community that someone cares and that tomorrow will be better.”

Over the last nine months, WCK has funneled $135 million into local restaurants across the United States, assisting small businesses and community members in need.