Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, WCK has been investing in something that outlasts any single meal: local capacity. Through our Community Kitchen program, we equip local community centers with the tools they need to cook for their neighbors—ensuring that families can prepare the meals they love, in comfort, and together. #ChefsForUkraine

"It is not only about meeting their need for a meal—it is also about bringing them together around one table, so they can feel warmth and safety during the difficult situation they are living through." Caroline cooks at WCK's kitchen in Zahlé, Lebanon, preparing meals every day for displaced families. She and the team take care to cook recipes people like, especially the children. Every meal is served with love. For Caroline, food is more than nourishment. It’s a moment of togetherness in the middle of uncertainty. #ChefsForMidEast

WCK’s #ChefsForGuam teams didn’t forget the residents of Nevermind Road. When we learned that families on this street had been impacted by Typhoon Champi, the third typhoon to pass through the region this year, we made sure to bring them meals. By working closely with local partners who know their neighbors well, we make sure that no one is forgotten, and that people in need get the meals they need.

Beekeepers in Gaza are working hard to rebuild their projects, and WCK is doing what we can to support them. In addition to hot meals for the beekeepers themselves, we’re providing beehive boxes and frames so their bees can rebuild their colonies. Samar (photo 1) lost more than 500 hives, so these supplies are critical to help her restore her project and support honey production. #ChefsForGaza

WCK’s #ChefsForSpain team met María and her daughter Rosa Mari while distributing hot meals, fresh fruit, and water door-to-door in Oliva. They told us that the floodwater came in through their garage and reached more than two feet high. They’ve made a lot of progress cleaning up, but still have a lot of work ahead. Until María, Rosa Mari, and the rest of their community are able to cook for themselves, we’ll keep coming back, hot meals in hand. El equipo de #ChefsForSpain de WCK conoció a María y a su hija Rosa Mari mientras repartíamos comidas calientes, fruta fresca y agua puerta a puerta en Oliva. Nos contaron que el agua entró por el garaje y alcanzó más de medio metro de altura. Han avanzado mucho con la limpieza, pero aún les queda mucho trabajo por delante. Hasta que María, Rosa Mari y el resto de su comunidad puedan volver a cocinar en casa, seguiremos volviendo con comida caliente.

For many Ukrainian families, preserving their own produce is an annual tradition that brings people together. Not only does it provide shelf-stable food to last through the winter, it also reflects the unique traditions of each family—no two families have the exact same recipes. WCK's #ChefsForUkraine team is distributing our brand new preservation kits to communities who don't have access to their usual supplies and produce. Each kit includes enough ingredients for one 3-liter jar of fermented cabbage, one 1-liter jar of eggplant spread, one 1-liter jar of zucchini spread, and two 1-liter jars of borsch dressing, but each family can choose how they want to use their kit. This way, families can use the recipes they've had for generations once again this winter—a comforting moment during increased Russian attacks and uncertainty.

WCK was serving meals in Joaquín Arriba, Panama, to people impacted by the recent earthquake when a whole family came out to meet our team. As we were heading out, they called their grandfather over to join the group photo. He arrived eager to meet the team and ready to talk. He thanked them, then told us about the house he plans to build near the beach so he can fish for red snapper. These connections don’t just fill our teams with joy—they build the trust that lets us support people through some of the hardest moments of their lives. #ChefsForPanama Estábamos sirviendo comidas en Joaquín Arriba, Panamá, a personas afectadas por el reciente terremoto cuando toda una familia salió a saludar a nuestro equipo. Cuando ya nos íbamos, llamaron a su abuelo para que saliera en la foto de grupo. Llegó con ganas de conocer al equipo y listo para conversar. Les dio las gracias y luego nos contó sobre la casa que planea construir cerca de la playa, para poder salir a pescar pargo. Estos encuentros no solo llenan de alegría a nuestros equipos: también construyen la confianza que nos permite acompañar a las personas en algunos de los momentos más difíciles de su vida. #ChefsForPanama

Svitlana is originally from Luhansk, Ukraine’s easternmost region, but she has lived in Hostomel—550 miles west of her home—since the Russian invasion began. Making homemade preserves is a winter tradition she has kept for years, and this year she was able to share it with other women at her community kitchen with support from WCK. We brought fresh vegetables and tools for making preserves, all part of our Preservation Project to help Ukrainians prepare for winter. “We did everything together today—cooking, talking, and laughing. It was such a nice day, and I’m really glad we could all be together,” said Svitlana. #ChefsForUkraine

Getting food to people after a disaster takes preparation, teamwork, and partners we can count on. Right now, in Valencia and Alicante, our longstanding partnership with @ford, @fordphilanthropy, and @fordspain is helping WCK teams reach communities cut off by DANA Adam flooding. Ford’s 4x4 vehicles let us move supplies and serve meals even where roads are damaged—getting to families who might otherwise be out of reach. From one response to the next, the right partners mean our teams can provide meals to communities impacted by disaster, when they need them most. #ChefsForSpain Llevar comida a las personas tras una catástrofe requiere preparación, trabajo en equipo y socios en los que podamos confiar. Ahora mismo, en Valencia y Alicante, nuestra colaboración de muchos años con @ford, @fordphilanthropy y @fordspain está ayudando a los equipos de WCK a llegar a las comunidades aisladas por las inundaciones de la DANA Adam. Los vehículos 4x4 de Ford nos permiten transportar suministros y servir comidas incluso donde las carreteras están dañadas, llegando a familias que de otro modo quedarían fuera de nuestro alcance. Respuesta tras respuesta, contar con los socios de larga data hace posible que nuestros equipos lleven comida a las comunidades afectadas por las catástrofes, justo cuando más la necesitan. #ChefsForSpain

Three super typhoons. Six months. The same islands, hit again and again. Champi, Bavi, and Sinlaku have each swept across Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands since April. After each one, WCK has been there alongside local partners to make sure families had a hot meal. We’re on the ground in Guam right now, serving thousands of meals a day in the wake of Champi, cooking with the chefs, restaurants, and volunteers who call these islands home. Those partnerships are what make speed possible. Because we’ve built them storm after storm, we can preposition teams before landfall and serving meals the moment it’s safe to move. #ChefsForGuam #ChefsForCNMI

In Joaquín Arriba, Panama, Señora Ercilia welcomes the WCK team the same way every time: arms open, a story at the ready, and in no hurry to say goodbye. Beside her door, she has started her own record of the days since the earthquake. One sticker for every meal delivered, and she’s kept them all. We’ll keep coming back, for as long as residents like Señora Ercilia need us. #ChefsForPanama En Joaquín Arriba, Panamá, la señora Ercilia recibe al equipo de WCK siempre de la misma manera: con los brazos abiertos, una historia lista para contar y sin ninguna prisa por despedirse. Junto a su puerta, ha empezado su propio registro de los días transcurridos desde el terremoto. Una calcomanía por cada comida entregada, y ahí siguen todas. Seguiremos regresando, todo el tiempo que vecinos como la señora Ercilia nos necesiten. #ChefsForPanama

In Gaza, two-thirds of the population faces crisis levels of food insecurity. Through our network of kitchens, WCK teams deliver hundreds of thousands of nourishing meals every day, providing an essential source of food and stability for families most in need. #ChefsForGaza

For 40 years, Valentyna was a cook in Semenivka, Ukraine. When her village was invaded by Russian forces, she cooked meals for about 240 neighbors, ensuring families got the urgent support they needed. Eventually she fled Semenivka in search of safety with her daughter and grandson. Today, they live in a modular settlement for displaced families. She still works as a dishwasher, preferring to feel productive rather than resting. WCK serves her and her family hot meals so they don't have to worry about access to food during this challenging time. “I want to work for my grandson," she told us. "He just started seventh grade, and I really want him to have a normal childhood, even if he’s spending it away from home right now. [WCK's] help means a lot to us. Especially to older people.” #ChefsForUkraine

WCK teams are serving meals in Guam after Typhoon Champi impacted the island, but this is far from our first time in the region. In fact, our teams have responded to three typhoons in the Mariana Islands this year alone. Hear from WCK's Courtney about the partnerships we've built, the flexibility we need, and her favorite local foods from @kuamnews: youtube.com/watch?utm_source…

As communities in Alicante and Valencia begin to recover after the flooding caused by DANA Adam, WCK is reaching people in need with hot meals—including door-to-door deliveries in Oliva. There, Chef Pepa met 90-year-old Marisa, who told us that her 92-year-old husband uses a wheelchair and her 88-year-old sister has epilepsy. Bringing meals directly to their door makes a world of difference to families like Marisa’s. Every hour matters, which is why it’s critical for our teams to stay prepared. “Getting our teams, ingredients, equipment, and local partners ready before the water arrives means we can move quickly and focus on feeding communities when they need us most,” said Pepa. #ChefsForSpain Mientras las comunidades de Alicante y Valencia comienzan a recuperarse de las inundaciones causadas por la DANA, WCK está en el terreno llevando comidas calientes a quienes más lo necesitan, incluidas entregas puerta a puerta en Oliva. Allí, la Chef Pepa conoció a Marisa, de 90 años, cuyo marido de 92 años utiliza silla de ruedas y cuya hermana de 88 años tiene epilepsia. Para familias como la de Marisa, recibir la comida en la puerta de casa marca una diferencia enorme. “Preparar a nuestros equipos, ingredientes y socios locales antes de que llegue el agua significa que podemos movernos rápidamente y centrarnos en alimentar a las comunidades cuando más nos necesitan,” dijo Pepa. #ChefsForSpain

In Panama, local chefs are bringing their kitchens, experience, and knowledge of their communities to WCK’s #ChefsForPanama efforts. The team at Oleajes de Sabores, one of our restaurant partners in Los Santos is working every day to prepare meal after meal for families impacted by the earthquake. Working with local restaurant partners means WCK can serve food that is rooted in local flavors and familiar to the communities receiving it. En Panamá, chefs locales están aportando sus cocinas, su experiencia y su conocimiento de sus comunidades a los esfuerzos de WCK #ChefsForPanama. El equipo de Oleajes de Sabores, uno de nuestros socios restauranteros en Los Santos, trabaja cada día para preparar comidas para las familias afectadas por el terremoto. Trabajar con socios restauranteros locales significa que WCK puede servir comida con sabores regionales y familiares para las comunidades que la reciben.

For millions of Ukrainians, the threat this winter extends far beyond the frontlines. A single attack on essential services can leave entire neighborhoods without the ability to cook, heat their homes, or access basic services. From alternative cooking methods that do not require electricity or gas to new distribution points, WCK's #ChefsForUkraine teams are preparing to reach people even when power outages, damaged infrastructure and security conditions make traditional food distribution impossible. Read more about our efforts to support Ukrainians this winter: wck.org/news/ukraine-wck-pre…

Typhoon Champi made landfall on Guam early Sunday as a Category 4 storm. An estimated 50% of the island lost power, roads are flooded, and our teams are still navigating heavy rainfall in the aftermath. As soon as it was safe to do so, our teams delivered hot meals to emergency shelters and relief workers across the island—the first hot meals those shelters received after the storm. This is the third massive typhoon to strike the region in 2026, hitting communities that were already stretched before Champi arrived. WCK coordinated closely with local restaurant partners before landfall so we could move the moment it was safe. Pre-positioning and local partnerships make the difference. When Champi hit, we were ready to respond immediately. #ChefsForGuam

The torrential rains from DANA Adam caused the Girona River to overflow in Els Poblets, Alicante, flooding the streets and damaging homes, businesses, and vehicles. WCK is supporting residents as they navigate the aftermath of the floods and begin to recover. We are serving sandwiches, water, and fresh fruit to fuel the cleanup efforts. Across the provinces of Alicante and Valencia, our teams are working alongside local partners to make sure communities like Els Poblets get the support they need. #ChefsForSpain Las lluvias torrenciales de la DANA Adam provocaron el desbordamiento del río Girona en Els Poblets, Alicante, inundando las calles y causando daños en viviendas, negocios y vehículos. WCK está apoyando a los residentes mientras hacen frente a las consecuencias de las inundaciones y comienzan a recuperarse. Estamos sirviendo bocadillos, agua y fruta fresca para impulsar los esfuerzos de limpieza. En las provincias de Alicante y Valencia, nuestros equipos trabajan junto a socios locales para asegurarse de que comunidades como Els Poblets reciban el apoyo que necesitan. #ChefsForSpain

Overnight and through the day, Russian drones and missiles struck energy sites, homes, medical facilities, railways, and roads across Ukraine—from Kyiv and Khmelnytskyi to Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Sumy, and Mykolaiv. People were killed and injured. Many more were left without gas, power, and a safe place to eat. WCK mobilized immediately. In the last 24 hours: 🍲 We served hot meals to residents of damaged homes and emergency crews across multiple regions 🥗 We brought fresh salads to people and first responders in Sumy 🚆 We fed passengers on a Dnipro-Lviv train delayed for hours—serving hot meals, fruit, and water inside a station bomb shelter during an air raid alert In Khmelnytskyi, we delivered lunches to residents left without gas and power. Tomorrow, we will bring recovery kits to people receiving treatment in hospital. In Zaporizhzhia, we are winding down our response as gas has been restored. #ChefsForUkraine