Giving Kitchen

💚 One last thank you before we call it a day. Today, we celebrated the people who make this industry so special, from cooks and servers to baristas, dishwashers, bartenders, managers, and everyone in between.

As our final post of , we’re sharing a clip of Chef Ryan Hidinger reflecting on his personal industry story and culinary vision from a Atlanta talk in June 2013.

More than a decade later, his words still resonate. From the early days of Giving Kitchen to more than 40,000 food service workers supported, this community has continued to show up, rally around one another, and believe in what’s possible.

“Anything long-lasting or worthwhile takes time and complete surrender.”
— Chef Ryan Hidinger

Today was about you. Thank you for showing up, feeding us, welcoming us, celebrating with us, and making this industry what it is.

And if you’re not quite ready to stop celebrating, we don’t blame you!!
Keep sharing your gratitude with and tag .

Here’s to the food service workers who deserve our thanks today, and every day. 🧡

🔗 Learn more about Giving Kitchen’s origin story and watch the full talk through the link in our bio.

Food service is more than a job. It’s skill. It’s care. It’s hospitality. It’s a love language.

Every time we sit down for a meal, grab a coffee, celebrate a special occasion, or walk into a place that makes us feel welcome, someone is behind that experience, making it happen.

Food service workers matter because they make the experiences we love possible.

Today, we’re especially grateful to Samantha Gemini Stevens () for putting words to what makes this community so special.

And to every person who cooks, serves, hosts, bartends, cleans, delivers, and cares for us every day, thank you.

Have a food service worker you’re grateful for? Thank them in person, snap a photo together, and post your thank-you. Tag and help us fill the feeds with gratitude for the people who make our days, meals, and communities better. 💙🧡

Today, we’re celebrating the people who make our industry what it is, and we’re especially grateful to Chef Robert Butts for joining us in celebrating food service workers.

From the early mornings to the late nights, the long shifts to the countless details that happen behind the scenes, there is so much hard work that goes into every meal, every service, and every experience.

Thank you, Chef Robert (), for recognizing the people behind it all and using your voice to celebrate our food service community. We’re so grateful to have you with us for National Food Service Worker Day and can't wait for on November 1st!

Today, we’re saying thank you to the food service workers who bring their love, labor, skill, and heart to the table every day. 💙🧡

Chef Chris Rogienski (.ron), Executive Chef at Leluia Hall (), and Chef Cristian Medrano (), Chef de Cuisine, are celebrating the hardworking food service community across Charlotte and beyond.

As Chris shared, the love, labor, skills, and mentorship that food service workers bring to their work is something you can feel in the food and in the communities they create.

“We couldn’t do it without any of you, and we appreciate you.”

They’re also grateful for Giving Kitchen and the opportunity to support an organization that is there for food service workers when life happens and they need a little extra help.

To every food service worker: thank you for what you bring to this industry, to your teams, and to the people you serve.

Happy National Food Service Worker Day! 🍽️💙🧡

Thank you, Sean Sherman () for celebrating the people who make food service so meaningful. 💙🧡

Food service workers educate, nourish, bring people together, and use their voices to make a difference every day. We’re grateful for the people who keep showing up and making change through food.

Happy ! Celebrate your people with . Show up for food service workers.

Create your photo with our filter: https://bit.ly/4ns3ARE

There’s nothing quite like the camaraderie of food service. 💙🧡

For Chef Zachary Lanier of Iberian Pig Buckhead, it’s the people, the teamwork, and the shared passion that keep him in this industry.

It’s the way a team works together through a busy service. The common language of food and hospitality. The people who have your back and understand exactly what it takes to make a great experience happen.

Today, we’re celebrating that camaraderie that makes food service such a special community.

Thank you, Chef Zachary, for celebrating the people you get to work alongside every day. Happy National Food Service Worker Day! 🍽️💙🧡

Have a food service worker you’re grateful for? Thank them in person, snap a photo together, and share your thank-you. Tag and help us fill the feeds with gratitude.