Brackens Kitchen Inc

THROUGH FOOD RESCUE, CULINARY TRANING AND OUR COMMUNITY FEEDING PROGRAM, WE ARE COMMITTED TO RESCUING, RE-PURPOSING AND RESTORING BOTH FOOD AND LIVES.

COMMUNITY FEEDING PROGRAM: AT THE HEART OF OUR WORK IS A COMMITMENT TO FEED OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS IN NEED. IN ORANGE COUNTY 48% OF OUR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN ARE ON THE FREE AND REDUCED MEAL PLAN AT SCHOOL. AS A WHOLE, IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, THAT NUMBER JUMPS TO 59%. HUNGER IS ALL AROUND US AND WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT NOBODY SHOULD GO TO BED HUNGRY ANYWHERE AND CERTAINLY NOT IN AMERICA TODAY. OUR TEAM ARRIVES TO WORK IN THE KITCHEN EVERY DAY EXCITED AND READY TO DO WHAT THEY LOVE MOST, COOK TASTY AND NUTRITIOUS MEALS FOR OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS IN NEED. FROM BREAKFAST FOR OUR SENIORS RIGHT HERE IN GARDEN GROVE, TO A HOT LUNCH FOR OUR STRUGGLING COLLEGE STUDENTS IN SANTA ANA TO A COMPLETE HOT DINNER FOR FAMILIES, SENIORS AND VETERANS ALL ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WE ARE HONORED TO WORK IN THIS SPACE. WE ARE ABLE TO DO THIS NOT ONLY BY COOKING THE MEALS BUT WITH OUR FOOD TRUCK AND A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO HELP TO GET OUR MEALS INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. IN THE PAST YEAR SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE DISTRIBUTING 1,702,644 MEALS TO THE COMMUNITY LIVING IN FOOD INSECURITY THROUGH OUR DISTRIBUTION NETWORK OF OVER 45 COMMUNITY AND AGENCY PARTNERS.

RESCUED FOOD PROGRAMOUR RESCUED FOOD PROGRAM IS WHAT POWERS EVERYTHING WE DO HERE AT THE KITCHEN. IN AMERICA TODAY IT IS ESTIMATED THAT UP TO 40% OF OUR FOOD SUPPLY IS ENDING UP IN OUR LANDFILLS WITHOUT EVER HAVING BEEN CONSUMED BY HUMANS. PERFECTLY GOOD FOOD THAT WAS PRODUCED AT ENORMOUS COST TO YOU AND I EVIDENCED BY THE GROWING COST WE PAY FOR IT, IS LEFT TO ROT IN THE DUMPSTER. FOOD THAT IF PROPERLY MANAGED COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO FEED OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS IN NEED. AT THE KITCHEN WE WORK SO VERY HARD TO LEVERAGE EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS AND BUILD NEW AND EXCITING ONES TO ENSURE THAT HIGH QUALITY EDIBLE FOOD COMES TO US AND NOT THE DUMPSTER. WITH THE PASSAGE OF SB-1383 CALIFORNIA HAS PASSED LANDMARK LEGISLATION MANDATING THE REDUCTION OF FOOD WASTE. AS WE COME OUT OF COVID CITIES AND COUNTIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE ARE ONCE AGAIN FOCUSED ON WASTE. ONCE RESCUED WE ARE ABLE TO BRING THESE FOOD ITEMS INTO OUR 17,000 SQ FT FACILITY AND TURN IT INTO TASTY AND NUTRITIOUS MEALS FOR OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS IN NEED. UGLY PRODUCE, MEAT AND CHICKEN THAT DIDN'T SELL AND HAD TO BE FROZEN, OVERPRODUCTION OF SAUCES, DRESSINGS AND CONVENIENCE ITEMS, OFF SPEC ITEMS AND PRODUCE LEFT IN THE FIELD ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE MANY AREAS IN WHICH WE RESCUE FOOD. THIS PAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO RESCUE 260 TONS OF UNUSED EDIBLE FOOD FROM OUR LOCAL RESCUED FOOD PARTNERS.

CULINARY TRAINING PROGRAM: WE CAME TO THE REALIZATION OF TWO THINGS EARLY ON. FIRST, HOW SHORT LIVED OUR WORK IS. WE CAN FEED A PERSON TODAY AND TOMORROW THEY ARE HAPPY AGAIN. WITH THAT IN MIND WE KNEW WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO PROVIDE A PATH OUT OF POVERTY. WE ALSO REALIZED OUT MUCH TIME WE SPEND TEACHING AND TRAINING OUR VOLUNTEERS IN THE KITCHEN. WHEN WE PUT THOSE TWO TOGETHER, THE CULINARY TRAINING PROGRAM WAS BORN. WHILE COVID HAS PUT A HUGE DENT IN RECRUITING STUDENTS IN THE PAST 2 YEARS IT GAVE US AN ENORMOUS OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER DEVELOP OUR PROGRAM. THIS PAST YEAR WE'VE ABLE TO COMPLETELY REVAMP OUR CURRICULUM IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND ALSO BUILD OUT A KITCHEN SPACE SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR STUDENTS. WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE ALL OF THESE PIECES TOGETHER IN 2022 TO BRING IN NEW STUDENTS. WHILE WE RECOGNIZE THAT NOT EVERY STUDENT MAY BECOME A FAMOUS CHEF, EVERY STUDENT WILL HAVE THE FOUNDATION TO NOT ONLY A CAREER IN FOOD SERVICE BUT THEY WILL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION FOR HOW TO COOK AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR OWN FAMILIES. WHILE WE CONTINUE TO WELCOME SEVERAL YOUNG PEOPLE WITH BARRIERS INTO OUR KITCHEN TO LEARN AND GROW WE ARE EXCITED AND FOCUSED ON OUR NEW CLASS WORK AND RECRUITING STUDENTS INTO OUR REIMAGINED PROGRAM.