Milk Crate Kitchen Programs
Thoughtful Impact in our community.
addressing food insecurity while minimizing environmental waste
Soy Ginger Ground Beef with Zucchini, Eggplant and Carrot with Golden Rice and Cucumber Salad
Soy Ginger Ground Beef with Zucchini, Eggplant and Carrot with Golden Rice and Cucumber Salad
MCK Chopped Program
In 2023, great minds and open hearts came together to address the huge demand for our community meals while operating within funding constraints of a new and micro nonprofit. We leveraged the abundance of beautiful locally grown vegetables from the farmers market, the surplus of food donations from local restaurants to utilize existing resources, and $75 in food packaging supplies. The result is an innovative and environment-friendly creation of 100 to 500 additional meals each week.
These are either individually packaged or provided in hotel pans (bulk) and distributed within 24 to 48 hours to PDX Free Fridges and to other community based organizations (CBOs) and community centers. These are free and made possible by volunteers and businesses making in-kind donations.
Food Rescue Program
Our Milk Crate Kitchen team is all about Preventing Food Waste! We turn those high quality ingredients into nutritious meals. Whether it be a food pantry, restaurant, farmers market, school gardens, hotels, and farms, MCK is tackling food insecurity in the face of climate change. In 2023, we diverted over 12,000 pounds of food from going to waste. We are proud to have direct partnerships with businesses and organizations.
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Some of our current community partners:​
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Family Meals
Our flagship program. Overcoming barriers to food security cooking & delivering family meals to those in need, no cost no questions asked. A menu is set each week with a pre-determined amount of available slots. Each pan has at least 4 portions, enough to feed a family. Meat and plant-based options offering, listing any major allergens present or avoided.
People know what to expect which provides them the agency to decide if this is what they need. This has become a beacon of hope for so many who are struggling to eat and make ends meet. We cook from scratch and currently provide to 80+ households (320+ meals, cost and barrier-free to the recipients).
MCKmade Program
Our MCKmade was created with the help of nonprofit partners recognizing how invaluable and unique our service can be to those experiencing health issues layered with food insecurity. In 2023, we home-delivered a total of 960 family meals to 20 Wallace Medical patients using locally grown vegetables from Thimbleberrry Collaborative Farm for 12 weeks during the CSA summer season. The pilot was such a success that this year, we are back for year two and increased our impact by having MCK stock their clinic's community refrigerator with 60 MCKmade grab & go meals at the beginning of each week. Wallace care providers and care coordinators are able to give these to patients at the end of their appointment. We are on track to home-deliver 960 family meals plus 760 grab & go fridge meals by October.
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Using their discretionary funds, we partner with the CBO to provide their patients or clients with a cooked, nutrient-dense fresh meals free of processed food, major allergens, and keeping sodium and calories low or within healthy limits. This is an especially crucial consideration for marginalized community members who are aging, have a disability, and have chronic illness. Contact us to learn more on how to invest in a mutually beneficial relationship via MCKmade!
