We are Giving Kitchen and we help food service workers. Our mission is to provide emergency assistance to food service workers with access to a network of critical resources and limited financial support. Our vision is a community where crisis is met with compassion and care.
The story of Giving Kitchen begins with a diagnosis: stage-IV gallbladder cancer. Atlanta chef Ryan Hidinger and his wife Jen received the news in December 2012, seemingly putting to bed their dreams of opening a small, intimate neighborhood restaurant. The food service community sprang into action and held a fundraiser for Ryan and Jen called Team Hidi. This fundraiser led to the launch of Giving Kitchen (GK) in May of 2013 with the goal of providing assistance and support to food service workers in crisis.
While Ryan passed away in 2014, his legacy only continues to grow. Since GKs inception more than a decade ago, we have stabilized the lives of more than 40,000 food service workers with access to critical resources including >$17M in financial assistance. Our work has been recognized, receiving a James Beard Award for Humanitarian of the Year in 2019 and being named as one of Fast Company’s 2022 ‘Brands That Matter’. Of course, the recognition that matters most to us is from food service workers all around the country who know that we provide support to them and their families when they need it most.
Every GK client receives customized referrals to physical healthcare, housing assistance, mental wellness services, substance use treatment, and other essential resources they need for full recovery. Through partnerships with thousands of agencies nationwide, including our collaboration with FindHelp, we connect clients to comprehensive support systems that address root causes and build pathways to stability.
Clinic Comps, GK's collaboration with healthcare providers, offers zero-cost care, and suicide prevention training is provided through a partnership with the QPR Institute. The Stability Network aims to simplify the process for food service workers in crisis, providing an action plan for stability and recovery and eliminating challenges associated with identifying resources, reaching out to agencies, and navigating barriers.
Financial Assistance provides awards to food service workers facing specific qualifying crises like an injury, debilitating illness, the death of a loved one, or home disasters. GK provides funds for rental, mortgage, utility, and funeral expenses, which allow clients to focus on healing and recovery. Food service workers submit an application on the website, and licensed caseworkers assess their needs. Eligible individuals receive direct payments within hours, often preventing imminent eviction.
As of 2025, Giving Kitchen is operating one of the largest direct cash transfer programs in the United States. Our program awards payments directly to clients through instant ACH payments, rather than mailed checks to service providers. While award amounts are still based on basic living expenses, lease amounts, and utility bills, direct payment recognizes client dignity and prioritizes freedom to address their most pressing needs - whether that's medicine, groceries, or other necessities. Additionally, digital payments allows Giving Kitchen to distribute funds within hours rather than our previous two-week timeline.