Executive Pastry Chef Receives Help and Now Pays It Forward

Courtney works in food service, caring for guests and keeping service moving—until a sudden accident put her off her feet and out of work. While on vacation, she suffered a severe knee injury that required stitches, a cast, and multiple rounds of recovery after infections. With weeks of lost income and unexpected medical bills, rent became a real worry. After applying for help, Courtney was awarded financial assistance from Giving Kitchen to cover two months of rent. That combination helped her household stay housed and gave her space to focus on healing.

“My husband and I were on an incredible vacation in Tulum, Mexico. We rented a motorbike to get around, and one evening on our way to dinner, we were in a terrible accident. We had the green light at a four-way intersection when a car ran the red light from our left. To avoid being hit, my husband swerved sharply, and we went down hard. I ended up with a severe knee injury that required eight stitches across my kneecap.

While my stitches healed, my leg was in a cast, and I couldn’t move or bend it for several weeks. Unfortunately, my knee became infected twice, which meant even more time off work. Altogether, I was unable to work for about two months, followed by another month using crutches as I recovered.

During that incredibly stressful time, Giving Kitchen provided two months of rent, easing a huge financial burden while we faced unexpected medical bills and the loss of my income. Without that support, my husband and I would have been in an extremely difficult position. I will forever be grateful for the compassion and support that Giving Kitchen gave me when I needed it most.” — Courtney

Chef Courtney helped spark the Milli by Metric benefit last November by bringing chefs, partners, and volunteers together around a simple idea: care can be contagious. Working with the event team and community advocates, she helped create a welcoming space where food service workers could share their stories, raise awareness, and access real support.

Her leadership helped translate generosity into impact—over $7,000 raised to keep lights on, water running, homes heated, and rent paid, while connecting workers to practical resources through Giving Kitchen’s Stability Network. The night showed what’s possible when the industry comes together for its own.

Chef Courtney supports Giving Kitchen’s mission as a member of our Chicago Community Engagement Council. She helps support local fundraisers and connect food service workers to practical support—sharing information about our financial assistance for basic living expenses during a crisis and our Stability Network of community resources for healthcare, mental health, housing, food access, legal help, and more. Drawing from her own time in the industry, she advocates for compassionate, judgment-free pathways to ask for help, participates in outreach, and listens closely to what workers need. We’re grateful for her partnership and for every food service worker who takes the brave step to reach out.

Your generosity helps food service workers bridge the gap during unexpected crises.

Food service workers in crisis: Reach out to Giving Kitchen for help. You are not alone.

Employers and managers: Share resources with your team, normalize taking time to heal, and partner with Giving Kitchen to provide accessible support.

Community members, diners, and neighbors: Attend local benefit events like Milli by Metric, host fundraisers, donate, or share Giving Kitchen’s resources with someone in need.