< BACK

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

We asked our first recurring donor, who happens to also support us in this year's campaign why they donate to Milk Crate Kitchen. Here's what they said:

“MCK started their mission in the height of a global pandemic, at a time when food security was glaring in our faces. Free pantries were popping up, but MCK took it to the next level with the meals prepared for families. They have focused on making their meals accessible for everyone. The love and care put into this is very clear. It’s impossible not to want to support a grassroots organization like Milk Crate Kitchen. Since 2020, they are still doing it. That shows you their ability to persevere and we want to be a part of that for the community! ”

-Rebekah Yli-Luoma, Owner, Heart Coffee Roasters, Portland, Oregon

“I cant express how this service been more then a blessing to me and my 3 boys since our foodstamps got decreased more than half. Thank you”

-Low Income, Person with disability, Single Parent, Unemployed, Mixed Race

“The Pork Gremalata w/Roasted Potatoes was delicious & helped us get a well balanced meal a few days this week. Due to disabling conditions & financial limitations, it often is difficult for us to get 1 well balanced meals prepped & eaten in a day. Milk Crate helps us get 1 a lot sooner, so we can function better during the day & focus on other Activities o/Daily Living. Thank you.”

-Caregiver, Chronically ill, Elderly, Person who uses a wheelchair, Person with disability, White

“Milk crate kitchen is a blessing. A majority of the time our food stamps run out before they are reloaded. Right now I'm facing transportation barriers and having a meal delivered helps massively. I'm a mom of three, my youngest being three months. Having a home cooked meal that I don't have to prepare while entertaining my oldest, my toddler, and keeping the baby happy all at once takes a lot off of my plate that evening. Things have been hard lately, and milk crate kitchen makes it easier.”

-Low Income, White

“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

Our co-executive director is a BIPOC immigrant woman and co-leads Milk Crate Kitchen with founder and co-director who share a lived experience of coming from a single parent household growing up in the South. We learn about the communities we serve through the input and feedback they voluntarily share with us on the intake form each week. 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-based circular model, 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. Some of them receive our meals too. 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.

Incentives

November 1 - December 31

Chef-prepared private dinner for 4!

Donate $1,000 or more and experience a private dinner at your home prepared by chef Michael Casper of Milk Crate Kitchen.

Redeemable starting February 3, 2025 (because probably snow and ice storm in Portland Metro area?!) and we would rather not deal with cancellations and reschedules if we can help it :-)

November 1 - December 31

Cool crate sticker from MCK!

Donate as many $10 as your heart desires for a free Milk Crate Kitchen ‘cool crate’ sticker.

It will be mailed to you within 13 days of your donation date.

November 1 - November 15

Holographic decals/stickers from In Zob We Trust!

First 20 donors to donate $50 receives a limited release holographic MCK logo decals created by local artist, Will Fettig owner and creator of In Zob We Trust. Think about it, you will be 1 of only 20 MCK donors who get to rep an awesome grassroots org like MCK in a PNW-weather proof and holographic way :-).

It will be mailed to you within 8 days of your donation date or come pick it up from our kitchen in the Hollywood district.

November 16 - November 31

Merch from Portland-based globally available Heart Coffee Roasters!

Donate $200 or more for a 2-piece merchandise gift set with a retail value of $100. Must be available for pickup from MCK or local delivery within 5 miles from the Hollywood district.

Redeemable after November 31.

December 1 - December 13

Spirits and Non-alcoholic mixers from Portland-based New Deal Distillery & Bottle Shop!

Donate $100 or more for a choice of a 750ml bottle of vodka or gin (retail value of $25-$35) and a bottle of N/A mixer. Must be age 21 or up to be eligible and available for pickup from MCK or local delivery within 5 miles from the Hollywood district.

Redeemable after December 13.