Giving Kitchen began when a community came together for Jen and Ryan Hidinger during an unimaginable crisis. That outpouring of love, care, and practical support became the foundation for Giving Kitchen. Today, you can carry that spirit forward. Become a monthly donor to help food service workers in crisis.
© Brandon Clifton All Rights Reserved
A table built on showing up
When Ryan Hidinger was diagnosed with stage four cancer, the food service community did what it does best: it showed up. People gathered around Jen and Ryan with generosity, compassion, and real help when they needed it most.
That response was not formal or planned. It was instinctive. It was people taking care of one another in the way this industry always has. That moment became the beginning of Giving Kitchen.
Watch the founding story and see how one community’s “yes” became a lasting source of support for food service workers in crisis.
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Why Pass The Hat?
Pull up a chair. Stay at the table.
A monthly gift is a simple, steady way to say yes to food service workers all year long.
- Yes to help when a medical crisis keeps someone out of work.
- Yes to rent and utility support when a paycheck disappears.
- Yes to resource referrals that remind people they are not facing hard times alone.
By joining our Pass the Hat program, you join a community of recurring donors. You help food service workers regain stability when life turns upside down.
Monthly Giving, Meaningful Impact
Your monthly gift keeps a crisis from becoming a catastrophe.
For over a decade, Giving Kitchen has provided emergency assistance and community resources to food service workers in crisis. The impact is tangible:
- 238,000 days of rent provided to food service workers in crisis
- 71% of financial assistance clients are prevented from experiencing food insecurity
- More than 865 resources available through Stability Network
- $1,600 average financial assistance award for qualified clients
Pass The Hat: A Back-Of-House Tradition
Giving Kitchen’s monthly giving is an ode to the way we show up in our industry to do what’s right.
In commercial kitchens, “passing the hat” is what happens when someone is in need. A coworker is out sick, a family crisis hits, or a life event suddenly disrupts stability. Without hesitation, the team steps in to help support.
Each person contributes what they can, small amounts that add up to something meaningful. The size of the gift doesn’t matter. It is about showing up for one of your own.
When you join Pass the Hat, you join a community of monthly donors. We believe no one in food service should face a crisis alone. You are helping turn a moment of generosity into ongoing stability.
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