DC Central Kitchen

DC Central Kitchen (DCCK) is an iconic nonprofit and social enterprise that combats hunger and poverty through job training and job creation. The organization provides hands-on culinary job training for individuals facing high barriers to employment while creating living wage jobs and bringing nutritious, dignified food where it is most needed. DCCK’s social ventures include serving scratch-cooked farm-to-school meals in DC schools, delivering fresh, affordable produce to corner stores in neighborhoods without supermarkets, and operating fast-casual cafes throughout the District of Columbia.

Healthy Corners is a pioneering venture that is sustainably expanding healthy food access in DC neighborhoods through DC Central Kitchen, where over half of our organization’s employees are hired from our own Culinary Job Training program. We deliver produce to corner stores in DC’s low-income communities, offering fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables to store owners at wholesale prices and in smaller quantities than a conventional distributor. Healthy Corners works with select stores to authorize them in our SNAP Match program and in DC WIC. The program provides stores with marketing support, technical assistance, and nutrition trainings, and facilitates a Store Owner Community of Practice for stores to learn and share best practices as they work with the program to expand their capacity for healthier products and meet the needs of their community.