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Milk Crate Kitchen

BIPOC-Led Organization

Mission

Overcoming barriers to food security by cooking and delivering cost-free family meals to those in need, no questions asked.

Bottom Line for Portland

Grassroots and community-supported since the 2020 COVID pandemic, we help nourish low income and working families, students, caregivers, single parents, adults and children with mental and physical disabilities and many others. Close to 50% of our meal recipients are living at the margins and worrying where their next meal will come from. Many identify as low income or underemployed and living paycheck to paycheck. Because they work multiple jobs to make ends meet, their pooled income disqualifies them from receiving government aid or any social service type of support. Through our direct service we have learned more about the barriers to food security that marginalized and vulnerable communities face in their day to day living.

MCK meets people where they're at whether that's in between jobs, during a loss of a loved one (or a pet!), during a recent hospital discharge when there is no friends or family around, or at the end of the month when their SNAP dollars have run out. Over 40% of the 80 households served each week identify as elderly and with a disability, unable to regularly visit food bank and food pantries. People with chronic or serious health conditions unable to meal prep often choosing between high caloric, highly processed, high sodium foods when choices are limited with their fixed income. Our meal delivery option has been described as a life saver during an incredibly challenging time in their lives.

We partner with local farmers and markets to help minimize potential food waste while eliminating barriers to food security. Each week we see 18 to 25 community volunteers. MCK's circular model and purpose-driven approach is cultivating a strong community that is inspiring and engaging different members of the community to activate and stay civically engaged. We want to increase our food rescue capacity and produce more community meals. Your support will help us achieve these goals as we look ahead into another year of feeding Portland families, one cooked meal at a time.

Quote

“This service has been a lifesaver! With my disability and the increasing cost of food, it has made it hard to make ends meet each week. This meal makes all the difference.”

-Single parent, MCK family meal recipient

“I love that you help out low income that can't afford much” - Person with disability, low income, MCK family meal recipient

“I got laid off, and I’m so scared of what I’m going to do next. Getting on the MCK form means I have one less worry that week.” - MCK family meal recipient

“Single parenting is hard. These meals give everyone a night off and we get to enjoy a healthy meal together. The kids are even excited to try new foods because they are made so well. Thank you for doing what you do in the community.” - Person with Disability, Single parent, Low Income, MCK family meal recipient

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We learn about the communities we serve through the input and feedback they share with us each week. Through the partnerships we make with our local food growers, makers, and providers, our meal recipients utilize the Meal request form to inform us of their current needs. They voluntarily share how they identify on a cultural, social, and economic aspect, using our platform to be seen and heard. MCK keep our optional questions as up to date and relevant as possible in our best effort to be as inclusive and relevant with the changing tides. We operate with a mostly volunteer and donation base activating community members who come from a diverse social and economic backgrounds. Our weekly rotation of helpers is anywhere from 20 to 25 individuals of varying ages and profession. We do not ask the families we serve for proof of income or ID. We operate with the belief that if they are humble enough to ask us for a meal, we are gracious enough to provide them with one. What helping during these hard financial and emotional times should be --zero barrier.