For years, the World Central Kitchen has rallied the generosity of the restaurant industry to help people at times of crisis.
Now the restaurant industry is joining forces in support of World Central Kitchen.
The humanitarian organization recently mourned the death of seven aid workers killed during an attack by Israeli forces in Gaza.
This week, Benevolent Spirits, an industry fundraising group out of Asheville, North Carolina, launched a campaign in which restaurants are committing $1 to World Central Kitchen for every drink sold through May 12.
It doesn’t matter what type of drink—with or without alcohol, for example. The goal is to raise at least $25,000, and restaurants across the country have signed on, from Chai Pani in Asheville, North Carolina, and Decatur, Georgia; to Joule in Seattle and Txikito in New York City.
A list of participants and information to join in can be found here.
World Central Kitchen has also been raising money to support the families of those killed in the strike on April 1 as the team was on their way back from a food delivery. As of Thursday evening, $1,244,528 had been raised, surpassing the goal of raising $1 million.
The aid workers killed in the attack had come from around the world, and ranged in age from 25-year-old Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha from Palestine, to 57-year-old John Chapman from the U.K.
“Their smiles, laughter and voices are forever embedded in our memories,” said Erin Gore, World Central Kitchen’s CEO, in a statement.
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