José Andrés’s Nonprofit is Serving Thousands of Meals to CA Firefighters

Firefighters working to extinguish the Carr Fire in Redding, California — which has burned more than 125,000 acres and is roughly 35 percent contained — are getting support in the form of thousands of meals from World Central Kitchen, the globe-trotting nonprofit founded by celebrity chef José Andrés. As previously reported, the TV chef Guy Fieri and is also part of the effort.

World Central Kitchen, best known for serving millions of meals as part of a recovery effort in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, began their relief effort in Northern California early this week. Today, led by chefs like Tim Kilcoyne of Ventura, California, they’ll serve 2,100 meals to hungry firefighters, displaced families, and first responders, coordinating the effort with the Salvation Army, California’s Office of Emergency Services, The Red Cross, and the group Operation BBQ Relief. Yesterday and the day before, the team served about 1,600 meals. Andrés himself is not in California; He’s currently in Spain.

“These guys are out there with a cold snack pack — trail mix, granola, a PB&J, high carbs, and that’s it,” Kilcoyne says of the firefighters he’s feeding. “What we’re bringing them is cold salad, a piece of fruit, a hot meal — they love the salad and fruit to be refreshed, and the hot dish to be comforted.”

“We brought jambalaya yesterday and chili today — they want a meal that’s like home, that’s made with love.”

The World Central Kitchen’s California team will remain in place for “as long as they’re needed,” according to a representative. They’re accepting donations and volunteers online.

• Guy Fieri and José Andrés Help the Northern California Wildfire Relief Effort [Eater]
• Guy Fieri Back in Action as Fires Rip Through Northern California [Eater SF]