We paused. A quiet confidence swelled. We were inspired as we saw all the possibilities ahead of us, all the people we could help — people that didn’t necessarily look like Ryan, or come from his background, or have his privilege or access. And it would involve everyone — every food service worker could get the support they need, and everyone in our community could step up to help. And that’s where you come in.
It was our community’s generosity at Team Hidi in 2013 that started it all, and that has pushed Giving Kitchen forward to the point that we now have served over 11,400 food service workers in 28 states. And I’m asking for your generosity again: Will you make a donation to Giving Kitchen today?
To Ryan, his cancer was a gift because it illuminated the compassion and generosity of his community, both in the food service world and beyond. He fought courageously, but regardless of the outcome, he felt he had won. His enlightened response to a terminal diagnosis became a beacon of hope for many, and laid the foundation of Giving Kitchen’s guiding principles: empathy, generosity, compassion, precision, trust, and gratitude.
We’ve lived those principles, and we continue to be inspired by that simple, instinctive response Ryan had back in 2013: we want to be available to help every food service worker and engage everyone in the community to support those who serve us every day.
The resilience, humility, and courage to ask for help that inspires me to keep pushing Giving Kitchen forward in the story of getting it right: recognizing food service workers as vital and valued in our community, every single one. By making a donation to Giving Kitchen, you are letting food service workers know that you appreciate them, and that you have their backs.