Founder of DC community kitchen to speak on food and philanthropy June 6

Robert Egger, founder and president of DC Central Kitchen, will visit Orcas next week to share his experience in food assistance across the nation. Egger will speak about the role of non-profits in creating effective solutions, and invite attendees to dialogue about local food and philanthropy efforts. DC Central Kitchen is the country’ s first “community kitchen” where food donated by hospitality businesses and farms is used to fuel a nationally recognized culinary arts job training program, with unemployed men and women learning marketable skills while donations are converted into balanced meals. Everyone is welcome and there is no charge for the event, scheduled for Monday, June 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the Odd Fellows Hall.

May 25, 2011 5:18 pm
Robert Egger.
Robert Egger.

Robert Egger, founder and president of DC Central Kitchen, will visit Orcas next week to share his experience in food assistance across the nation. Egger will speak about the role of non-profits in creating effective solutions, and will invite attendees to dialogue about local food and philanthropy efforts.

DC Central Kitchen is the country’ s first “community kitchen” where food donated by hospitality businesses and farms is used to fuel a nationally recognized culinary arts job training program, with unemployed men and women learning marketable skills while donations are converted into balanced meals.

Everyone is welcome and there is no charge for the event, scheduled for Monday, June 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the Odd Fellows Hall.

The evening is hosted by the Orcas Island Community Foundation, Orcas Island Farm to Cafeteria and the Orcas Island Food Bank. Donations for the Food Bank and F2C will be happily accepted.

Since it opened in 1989, DC Central Kitchen has produced over 23 million meals and helped 800 men and women gain full time employment. The kitchen operates its own revenue generating business, Fresh Start Catering, as well as the Campus Kitchens Project, which coordinates similar recycling/meal programs in 30 college or high school based kitchens.

Egger was included in the Non Profit Times list of the “50 Most Powerful and Influential” nonprofit leaders from 2006-2009. He was the recipient of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington’s 2007 “Lifetime Achievement” award and the 2004 James Beard Foundation “Humanitarian of the Year” award. He has been named an Oprah Angel, a Washingtonian of the Year, a Point of Light and one of the Ten Most Caring People in America by the Caring Institute.