We are a food service community meeting crisis with compassion and care.
Our mission is to provide emergency assistance to food service workers through financial support and a network of community resources.
Our team consists of some of the hardest working food-lovers you’re likely to encounter. Meet our staff and board.
read more about WHAT WE DO>>
Guiding Principles
Empathy: Understanding and responding to unanticipated crises in the food service community.
Generosity: Compassion and care beyond expectation.
Community: Transcending boundaries, our community is built through caring and the connection to service of others.
Precision: The right resources, at the right time, in the right amount, to the right people.
Trust: Stewardship and governance that honors our mission and those we serve.
Gratitude: Appreciation for the opportunity to serve our community.
“The food community has responded to the clarion call for action by coming out and showing the best side of humanity by taking care of their friends and neighbors.” — Andrew Zimmern
Who we are
Giving Kitchen is building a food service community where crisis is met with compassion and care.
Our Story
This stamp served as the original The Giving Kitchen mark, ca. May 2013
Giving Kitchen grew out of a beyond-expectation response to the devastating, stage-four cancer diagnosis of Chef Ryan Hidinger in December 2012. Ryan was well-known in the Atlanta restaurant community for his work at Bacchanalia, Floataway Café and Muss & Turner’s. And he and his wife, Jen, were beloved for their supper club called Prelude to Staplehouse, which they hosted for several years as a precursor to opening their dream restaurant.
The response to Ryan’s diagnosis - initially from friends within the restaurant industry, and then quickly from an ever-expanding community across Atlanta - was truly heroic: an outpouring of love and financial support to help with his expenses not covered by insurance.
Jen said that this outpouring gave Ryan a peace of mind that she believes extended his life by at least six months. The community’s overwhelming response to the Hidingers' crisis set the intent, beliefs and values for Giving Kitchen.
To this day, thanks to the leadership and vision of the Hidinger family and our donors, partners, staff, and board, Giving Kitchen has supported thousands food service workers in crisis.
Giving Kitchen Stories
Giving Kitchen’s story started with Ryan Hidinger and the fight to save one life. Now, our story is the fight to serve thousands. Our goal is to share our best stories here, with the help of a team of writers, photographers, and clients. Click here to read GK stories.
Thank You, 2024 Annual Corporate Partners!
