Here's How Chef Jose Andres Is Responding To The Earthquake In Haiti
José Andrés is a chef who technically needs no introduction, but deserves one nonetheless. For those in the culinary know, his name is up there with the greats. As his website notes, he was "named one of Time Magazine's '100 Most Influential People' in both 2012 and 2018." The internationally-recognized chef has been cited as a "culinary innovator, New York Times bestselling author, educator, television personality, humanitarian, and chef/owner of ThinkFoodGroup" and his restaurant roster ranges from food trucks to world-class tasting menu venues.
Despite all that acclaim, there is a world often lost in the shuffle that's equally as important as the food he serves, and that is the people he helps along the way. In 2018, the James Beard Foundation announced that they named Andrés Humanitarian of the Year in the wake of his commitment to combating food and hunger issues, particularly after Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc throughout Puerto Rico. So how is the humanitarian responding to the crisis in Haiti?
Saving the world, one meal at a time
CNN recently covered the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that shook Haitians on August 14, "leaving more than 2,100 people dead and thousands more injured." Days later, as Time reported, a storm came in and caused even more damage. In a decisive move, Chef José Andrés considered the quake a call to action. Per People, his team sprang into action by offering supplies to victims in Haiti and helping "to feed thousands of injured and displaced Haitian people."
Andrés' nonprofit World Central Kitchen has a mission to use "the power of food to nourish communities and strengthen economies through times of crisis and beyond." According to People, "within 24 hours of the earthquake" the nonprofit began to cook and distribute meals and snacks to "citizens, first responders and airport security" from their school in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. Andrés is also "vocally supporting efforts from home" as he is ill with a mild case of COVID right now. Here's hoping this prince recovers quickly and makes it out to his team in Port-au-Prince as soon as possible!