Amid the coronavirus crisis, acts of solidarity continue to multiply. The World Central Kitchen, the NGO of the well-known chef José Andrés, has arrived in Spain to help fight this crisis. This initiative was born to ensure that the most vulnerable groups can have something to eat. It does so under the hashtag #CHEFSFORSPAIN and by the cooperation with Grupo Arzábal and Mateo&Co.
World Central Kitchen is focusing its initial efforts in Madrid, where it is already considering creating new solidarity kitchens. What is more, it will also collaborate in other cities such as Barcelona and Valencia over the next few days to help combat the crisis throughout Spain.
“For us it is a responsibility to help Spain in one of the most complicated moments in its history,” says Javier García, secretary general of WCK. “It is being one of the European countries most affected by Covid-19 and more and more people are in need of help in this situation, especially the most vulnerable who are having trouble even accessing a daily plate of food”.
This initiative is possible thanks to the channelling and collaboration of Banco de Alimentos de Madrid (Food Bank Madrid), which manages the help for more than 500 charities and is responsible for the distribution of the food in different social centres in the region and to families at risk of social exclusion.
All food for cooking dishes has been donated by the supplier Makro. “We are very happy that this initiative arrives in Spain, and from Makro we will always be on the side of the chefs who in this case are headed by José Andrés. Makro is the official supplier in this case and helps to the extent of its current possibilities to the development of the project, committing to deliver what the team that is developing food deliveries is asking us”, explains Chema León, Marketing Director of Makro.
The founders of Arzábal, the chefs Álvaro Castellanos and Iván Morales have dozens of volunteers among the workers of their company who will prepare the everyday food for those most in need: “It is a responsibility for us to help and collaborate through our kitchens in these difficult times we are going through. Together with World Central Kitchen we take this responsibility and thank them for helping us by teaching us through their knowledge acquired in large disasters,” says Ivan Morales of Arzábal Group.
“It is a responsibility for us to help and collaborate through our kitchens in these difficult times we are going through,” says Ivan Morales. “Together with World Central Kitchen we take this responsibility and thank them for helping us by teaching us through their knowledge acquired in large disasters. We see ourselves in the obligation to contribute to what we can and feed all those in need, to send the most disadvantaged groups a smile, even if it is small, through a piece of food.
Cooking with much enthusiasm, illusion and above all responsibility.“
In the logistics, the organization, management, the coordination of groups and other tasks necessary to ensure success are carried out by the gastronomic consultant Mateo&Co. “We are living in a situation where the hospitality industry is suffering a lot, but we are privileged in this situation and we are obliged to give a hand and support”, explains Patricia Mateo, CEO of the company.
The dishes are made in a healthy way and with the best ingredients, since they are intended for both the elderly and families with children, and collectives with different nutritional and religious requirements.
“We have launched our central kitchen and all the necessary equipment to prepare menus adapted to different needs. Therefore, ensuring that all those people who are having trouble accessing a plate of food can do so during these difficult times. For the preparation of the menus we are taking all the necessary precautions and health measures ensuring that there is no risk to volunteers who work there on a daily basis, nor to the most vulnerable people who will have access to the food”, says Álvaro Castellanos, Arzábal Group.
Source: Professional Horeca
