There are two parts to DC Central Kitchen at Buzzard Point. The first part is a full center where people can volunteer to help pack food, etc. The facility is newer so it's clean and nice. There's even a lobby for volunteers with cold water, places to sit, and more. The second part is a cafe that's open every day that sells coffee drinks, food, and snacks. I ordered the chai latte with an espresso shot and it was strong and tasty. They also sell sandwiches, lunch deals, Just Tea, and more. There's plenty of seating inside and a few seats outdoors along the sidewalk. read more

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DC Central Kitchen serves fresh, satisfying meals that prove cafeteria-style food can still be delicious. The menu offers a variety of well-prepared options made with quality ingredients, and the portions are generous for the price. Whether you're stopping by for breakfast or lunch, it's a reliable spot for a flavorful meal that also supports a great cause. read more

Great option for breakfast today! I enjoyed the steak, egg, and cheese bagel--came hot! Great coffee options, too. Enjoy! read more

DC Central Kitchen - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I love their cause and regularly volunteer here but as a customer, I have opinions. I ordered a cheesesteak and the menu labels it as being served hot. It's premade and thrown in the microwave... fine.. but it was NOT in a microwave safe container. The plastic top was literally molded onto the bread. Flavor was still delicious but that is not food safe. Potato wedges were also mushy and basically mashed potatoes. I love their coffee though and when i'm at MLK library i'll always get it. Still will support as the food and drinks itself is delicious, on top of their mission, but theres a lot of room for improvement for the customer experience! read more

Located in the lobby of DC Central Kitchen's headquarters at the Michael R. Klein Center for Jobs & Justice in SW DC, The Klein Center Cafe serves fresh coffee, delicious pastries, and light fare featuring locally-sourced ingredients. In addition to finding high-quality meal items for breakfast and lunch, customers can purchase a variety of snacks, including soft-serve ice cream, and use the cafe's to-go window to pick up orders quickly. Seasonal outdoor seating is also available, weather permitting. For over 30 years, DC Central Kitchen's Culinary Job Training program has helped more than 2,000 men and women launch culinary careers. Details here https://dccentralkitchen.org/enroll/ read more

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Service and food was great. The workers give of their time which is wonderful! Can't wait to eat there again.

Service here has been good. Usually I get a cup of coffe and a bakery item on a weekend. Coffee and muffins are great and the breakfast sandwiches have been enjoyable too. read more

We got this wonderful opportunity to give back to the DC community by helping these chefs with meal prep for hundreds of homeless people in this area. It felt really special just to be able to work at a professional setting. As a huge foodie, I always wanted to experience what a professional kitchen looks like. This was my opportunity not only to experience it but also help the community. Anyone can sign up as an individual or as a group to help these chefs. We were handed aprons and head overs. Our jackets were locked in a safe area. Then were escorted to the kitchen area where we washed our hands and wore gloves before starting our project. I was directed to the celery station where I spent most of the time chopping celery into small pieces which was being used for beef stew. Some of the other tasks were chopping onions, and other veggies, cutting bread, stirring beef stew, cleaning and marinating chicken for fried chicken, cutting ham and various other things. I must admit that it's not a easy job working at the kitchen and cooking for hundreds of people if your not experienced enough. Kudos to those chefs who do it on a daily basis. I was tired and exhausted at the end of the day but it felt good as we did something good for the community. Definitely encourage everyone to take this opportunity to serve the community. read more

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I participated in the Yelp Elite event on Saturday. This is a great organization and the morning meal prep volunteer opportunity was great. Bomani was great with helping us get comfortable with our roles and making sure we were following rules and protocol to keep safe. More importantly, every employee seemed to also enjoy their job and that was great to see! I would love to volunteer here again in the future. read more

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I was so honored to be part of this! I have always wanted to volunteer and it was such a fun and great experience! When I got there, I had to sign in and then take a seat and wait till the staff member came and gave us hair nets and aprons. We were divided up into groups and washed our hands and then wore the gloves to start the prep process. We were in charge of chopping up the squash and zucchini. It really felt therapeutic and also knowing that I was helping which was an awesome feeling. At one point we were told to go on break but I was on a roll and didn't want to stop lol. Once we did finish up, we also had to clean and while down like stations and also sweep up any debris. I love that DC kitchen serves the community. I was so happy to be part of this and it just feels so good to give back! I hope to volunteer again soon! read more

DC Central Kitchen - The Yelp Elite ladies! - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It's an amazing place to work and volunteer, they do so much for the city and really care about the quality of the food we serve.

At first glance, it looks nice and welcoming. Their employees are rude and loud to the point that makes customers uncomfortable. I tried putting in an order and was never able to since the cashier was too busy talking to her coworker. The restrooms, you need a security guard to walk you ... the food is okay from past experiences. Would never recommend it to any of my friends. read more

I had such a fun time volunteering for this awesome organization! The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful to our large group. There were lots of different ways to contribute during our time slot. Many of us got mini personal chef critiques/helpful notes while cheffing it up ourselves! The thing I really love about DC Central Kitchen is the tangible impact they're making on the many communities in DC to end the hunger and poverty cycle. They provide culinary job training and help with job placement, provide 5,000 healthy meals daily for the hungry, provide healthy foods for DC schools and so much more. Setting up volunteer time is really easy and you will definitely enjoy it when you are there. Thank you, for the opportunity to lend a helping hand! read more

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This is an amazing organization to help those who aren't so fortunate themselves. They also serve as a great resource for people looking to gain experience in the culinary/food service industry. read more

I had an awesome time volunteering at the DC Central Kitchen. Being a native Washingtonian, I am embarrassed to admit that I had no idea this kitchen existed. Granted, I was aware that the shelter was here. Anyway, it felt great "giving back," and I am proud to have prepped food with Yelp's finest. Now that I know about this kitchen, I have told my mini and hunny that we need to take a Saturday and give back for a few hours. Thanks, Kimi, for organizing and making those aware (like me) that this kitchen existed! read more

DC Central Kitchen is not your average soup kitchen! Every day volunteers, employees, and graduates of their culinary training program work together to produce over 5,000 meals to their partner agencies which include everything from homeless shelters, rehabilitation clinics, and after school programs. Additionally they have a fantastic culinary education program which helps train empower the unemployed to get the skills they need to work in the food industry. I recently got the chance to volunteer doing morning meal prep in their kitchen with a few amazing Yelp Elites and really loved going behind the scenes to see what they do each and every day. I have to give it up to the employees: they work hard! It's not an easy task to create nutritious and tasty meals for over 5,000 people day in and day out (I can barely do it for myself!). Everybody I came into contact with seemed truly passionate about what they do and was as friendly and helpful as can be. I highly recommend a volunteer shift to anybody who has the free time. For those who are unable to help out behind-the-scenes, DCCK has several keystone events a year to help raise money for their program such as the Capital Food Fight, Soundbites Music Festival, and Sips & Suppers. All of their events are wonderfully organized, stay true to their roots, and brings out the most celebrated names in the food world (if you check out my profile photos, you will see my Anthony Bourdain photobomb from the Capital Food Fight several years back). Truly a wonderful organization! read more

(1/19/14) Volunteering at DCCK is popular among church, advocacy, social, and Greek organizations. They have the charge of feeding thousands of people in need, providing culinary training for the unemployed, and rejuvenating urban food systems. That charge is remarkable and takes incredible effort to be successful. The wait to volunteer can sometimes extend months because the public fully supports it. As such, I was stoked to be selected for this opportunity with Yelp. The fact that we were providing service during the MLK Jr. Holiday weekend made it even sweeter. Our Elite squad was 10 strong. Everybody arrived on time and with a can-do spirit. Once we completed waiver forms and viewed Chef Rock's safety video, we were ready to go! Most of the Elite squad was working in the salad station. I was happy to have Bryan W. on my right-hand side to keep our production levels up, take care of some of the heavy lifting, and to advise me if my chopping technique started to wane. Lena (DCCK) kept a watchful eye, provided encouragement, and demos as needed. Chef William (DCCK) also monitored activities closely and provided comedic relief. The thing that struck me as I observed the DCCK staff is their work ethic and the pride that exuded from them. We can all learn from such examples. Additionally, their care & concern for the volunteers extended beyond obligatory levels. I'm looking forward to our return! In fact, Yelp will return in February. Pro Tip: If volunteering does not fit into your schedule, DCCK has a variety of ways to donate funds (United Way, CFC, online, or mail a check). read more

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This purpose and mission of this organization is wonderful! We were a volunteer group with James Madison University. We worked in the kitchen doing meal prep. DC central kitchen was very organized, high energy and positive! It's inspiring to know they do not only feed the under privileged with donated food that would otherwise be wasted, but offer free career training! read more

DC Central Kitchen - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The concept of this place is very cool. Not only do they make meals for the homeless using donated food that would otherwise be wasted, but they also provide free career training in the culinary arts to people who are struggling AND they then hire those students. Volunteer experience: you won't actually be interacting with any "customers" like I initially thought we might be. You'll be in the kitchen the whole time doing food prep, which yeah, isn't the most exciting. It's manual labor and it's tedious... peeling potatoes, separating yellow bits out of salad packages and so on. And the kitchen is hot as hell. That being said, it's worth it if you're a giving back type of person. DC Central Kitchen not only helps feed the underprivileged, but provides them with training and for many of them, actual jobs. Hard not to be on board with that. read more

I had a great volunteer experience! I wanted to do something worth wild for to kick off my birthday (2/2) this year. I decided that I would volunteer on 1/31 to get my festivities started. I tried to get several of my family members to join me BUT they waited toooo long to sign up and the slots were filled. My husband joined me - only because he thought the area that I was heading to was "questionable". I'm from DC! I wasn't afraid. I drive in this neighborhood often, when heading to work or to a basketball game. Notes: DC Central is housed in the basement of a "shelter" There are people hanging out on the sidewalk and in front of the building. The entrance to the Kitchen is in the rear - MUST GO THRU ALLEY There are guys hanging out and talking in the alley Once inside, you'll sign in via phone OR on the kiosk in the mini waiting room/eating area The staff ARE AWESOME! One of the guys spoke to my husband and me and said "I saw ya'll when you walked in the alley, you are the only people who didn't look afraid" LOL We picked the assignment of MEAL PREP. We chopped broccoli the entire time we were there. aaarrrrgh! I didn't want to see any broccoli for a few days. My husband dubbed himself: KING of the VOLUNTEERS and the staff members agreed and invited him to stay for the NEXT session that evening. We didn't stay. We were offered food on the way out. which was a plus - even though we didn't take anything. I would definitely come back and do more volunteering. Ms.Pertula Goerge-Redd was excellent with following up to make sure we didn't forget our designated time slot AND followed up to thank us. That was a huge plus. read more

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DC Central Kitchen really makes your volunteer experience something to remember. I've been here a few times over the years and every time I return I remember exactly why I keep coming back. I would recommend this location for volunteers of all ages! I've come here with family for school service hours (which they recognize and I saw a few volunteers bring paperwork to be signed), and with my boyfriend for volunteering just because. It's a great experience that shows you first hand the positive effects you can produce in the community with even just a few hours of your time. The video they show when you walk in is very informative and all you need to feel ready to start. All the staff is very friendly and you can tell they appreciate their volunteers. People are always willing to help at every corner, in fact I heard many laughs and good conversations going on between cooks and volunteers. The environment is very positive and a huge reason I give this organization 4 stars. Everyone works together towards a great goal: service. The first time I volunteered many years ago, I recall chopping up carrots for a few hours. By the end of the day, we had made a full meal that would feed many people. It's truly hard to consider the time you put in as work. Bringing a friend is great to chop up veggies and chat while doing good. This time I volunteered last week I was tasked with chopping up deer meat. This was less enjoyable for sure...but hey volunteering isn't all about fun all the time. It's nice that they take volunteers into consideration when tasking them with ingredients. A few people in our group were vegetarians and they were given baking or vegetables to chop instead. After chopping, we added the meat to a stew and served them into serving platters. You really see the whole process that goes into preparing a meal for the homeless. It seems that recently they have really expanded their programs and are doing more good in the community than ever before. I will surely return to the DC Central Kitchen and when considering doing service I would recommend this experience. read more

DC Central Kitchen - Getting our Service in on a Monday - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

DC Kitchen is a fun place to volunteer at. Although sometimes they get so many volunteers, which is a good thing. You must enjoy working in a kitchen and definitely wear sneakers and comfortable clothes that you don't mind getting dirty. You may be in charge of cutting food, cooking food, or cleaning up. Be ready to do anything! Also, a huge plus is that you may learn some prep/cooking tips from the chef! read more

This was an amazing opportunity to be an active member in the DC community, and really give back to those in need by performing a much needed service: meal prep for the homeless. And WOW, was it a great feeling! This was such a special event that really showcased the amount of planning and coordination that goes into the food service for this population. The staff at DC Central Kitchen were amazing- and a huge help to this gaggle of wide-eyed and amateur "chefs". The massive industrial kitchen ran like a well-oiled machine. We were donned in aprons and hair nets, and escorted to our assigned food prep station where we bonded with other Yelp Member volunteers for the duration of the volunteer activity. There were vegetable chopping stations, chicken prep stations, and other various areas throughout the enormous kitchen that kept everyone busy, and impressively the entirety of the kitchen remained pretty spotless throughout this food prep ordeal! My assignment was for the ham slicing station, and our little cohort of ladies really found our chopping rhythm quick! It was honestly just so amazing to bond with these Yelp members in a new way - all of us a little unsure of our culinary abilities but bonding nonetheless over this common, shared goal. Cooking for hundreds is no small feat, but the staff running the background operations of DC Central Kitchen made this effort seem not only manageable, but actually really FUN. I cannot commend them enough for doing this day in and day out. At the end of our volunteer morning I was tired, but smiling ear to ear because I felt so much gratitude and appreciation. I would definitely look forward to another event like this for the Yelp community. read more

Volunteer work needed! I am so grateful to be given an opportunity via Yelp, to help out at the DC Central Kitchen. When volunteering, you know that the food prepared will feed those who are hungry. It's a rewarding experience, because you help the guys already there. They definitely need all the help they could get. All volunteers were required to hand wash, wear a nice hat made of net, and gloves for sanitary purposes. There were several job duties that you can help out with: - cutting up the chicken (intense work, but at least you know how to properly cut one up) - cutting veggies, make salad, coleslaw - pan the chicken into proper number of servings to diff groups - cook rice - slice the big chunk of ham - baking slices of bacon And just various things. read more

Had a great time volunteering here with DC's Yelp Elite Squad. Giving back to the community is always an enjoyable experience. The entire process of volunteering was very organized and easy to understand. My passion for cooking and community service made this a very fulfilling Saturday morning. I will be back as soon as I can! read more

DC Central Kitchen - Celeryyyyyyyyy! - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The holidays are a perfect time to take stock of our blessings and give back to the less fortunate. Tonight I did my part by volunteering for a three hour evening meal prep shift at DC Central Kitchen. My group started our shift by watching a five minute orientation video, which gave us an overview of DCCK and what to expect in the kitchen. Next we put on aprons and hairnets, washed our hands, and put on latex gloves. We were split into two teams of four to tackle different tasks in the kitchen. My team was tasked with cutting four ounce slices of meatloaf and placing them in aluminum foil containers that were later labeled and placed in the refrigerator for storage. The other team was tasked with chopping vegetables. The food that we prepared will be served to 5000 people tomorrow so I'm glad that I could do my part to help make that happen. This was a fun team building activity for my entire group. It allowed us to bond while working together to complete our tasks in the kitchen. I'd recommend this activity to anyone who is interested in community service. Things to know before you go: 1) The kitchen is located in the basement of a shelter and can be accessed via the alleyway in the back of the building. Just look for the DC Central Kitchen sign to make sure you enter the right door. 2) There will be homeless people standing outside of the building. This fact plus the back alley entrance gives the location a sketchy vibe. This is something that you should be aware of if you're coming here for the first time. read more

It was my first time volunteering with Yelp at DC Central Kitchen and my friend and I had a great time. Yelp was great with communication before and during the event. DC Central Kitchen was very welcoming and they have a structured volunteer set up. My friend and I were assigned to chop onions and needless to say we were tearing up ten minutes into cutting. We enjoyed fun conversation with our Yelp friends and even had snacks. I will definitely join Yelp for the next event. read more

Joined a rather large group of fellow Yelp Eliters one Sat morning. Let's back up, I eventually joined them because finding the entrance was a little tricky if you use GPS. It'll actually take you to the front door of the building on 2nd St. However, you want to enter on E St and follow the few small signs through the back of the building. Once inside, past the plastic door covering, you make a right down the hall and another right into the volunteer waiting room. Not sure how this works with other groups but since there were so many of us, we were taken in sections and shown our, respective, work stations for the morning. Some were chopping veggies, some were prepping meat to cook, some were bagging dry goods and some were washing dishes. The overall feeling was excitement. Everyone really seemed happy to be using their time to ensure that someone got a balanced meal. This will, hands down, be one of my most memorable volunteering experiences! We had so much fun volunteering, it never felt laborious. Although I went though Yelp, I'm definitely signing up again. From the looks of the online sign-up calendar, a lot of people feel the same way since there are no available shifts. read more

Our group volunteered here for a few hours. The training and prep beforehand was well put together with the video. After the video, we were led thru a hallway to the kitchen where we locked up all of our items. It was a food prep day when we were there. Some sliced ham, others prepared the meal for Thursday (it was Tuesday), and my group sorted salad. Most people wouldn't like to sort salad, but we were there to be helpful and it was a good reminder of how much time goes into food prep before the meal can be cooked. Would love to come back again to volunteer when in DC. read more

If you give a man a fish, you'll feed him for a meal. If you teach a man to fish, you can feed him for life. But if you teach a man to cook a fish, you might get to eat that fish. I went with Intern Gloria and a bunch of other Yelpers to create food as opposed to our usual indulgence. We learned that unlike a simple food pantry (which is good too), DC central kitchen also has a training program so people can get jobs as well as food. I'm not sure who was in that program, but we prepped for 3 hours. Many trays of salad were created by our team. However, they informed us that we were just the morning crew, and that they needed 75 trays by the end of the day. And uh, well let's just say us yelpers were better at prepping and fooding than counting (I think we had 40?). Other yelpers cut meat, packed meals with chicken, and shredded cole slaw. So, if you're up for a good cause and don't mind some hard work, sign up at DC central kitchen. read more

Ive been volunteering here weekly after work for the better part of 4 months. Theres a reason why I keep going back..... First it is located in a convient location as it is right off of the Judiciary Square Metro line. As a "regular", I find that the experience changes week to week in that one week Im making beef and bean chili and the next week I am stocking freezers. The staff I work with are extremely knowledgable and friendly and make sure everyone feels useful. The best part is the food for the volunteers, one week they had cheeseburgers and fries, and the next week they have chicken wings. I always meet new people which is a bonus. However, many people go so they can show off which can get annoying because there is always a mass exodus during break time once they get their Instagram photos. In the end, this isnt a traditional soup kitchen where you are on the frontlines of DCs homeless community, however, I think it is a unique experience in its own right and I definately recommend taking part as a way to give back! read more

I volunteered here, and I was impressed that DC Central Kitchen even has tofu on the menu. I was given the unglamorous task of opening liquid scrambled eggs and pouring it into large bins. My colleague (a former sous chef) had the more exciting and dangerous task of hacking turkeys. read more

DC Central Kitchen - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I went last week, and I fell in love with the staff. I can honestly say that volunteering here has been the most rewarding service opportunity I've had in DC. My friends and I got the chance to meet and work with Marvin, who is a sarcastic yet very kind man. You can find his story on the "Successes" page of DC Central Kitcheb's website. He is such a great person, and it is so wonderful how DC Central gives people a chance in this city. After working with us for a short time, Marvin gave us nicknames--I was "Ninja," one friend was "Loyal," and one friend was "Smiley." He is such a funny, charismatic guy who just knows his way around the kitchen, and I can't wait to go back soon to work with him and everyone else in the kitchen! As for what we actually did, Most of the time we were helping move hot trays of food into carts that would be sent to different locations in the city. Others were chopping up watermelon, husking corn, rubbing butter and spices on corn, making soup, and moving boxes. They kept us on our feet, but it was so great to help do meaningful work go help them do their jobs. They work every day, so go swing by sometime and fall in love with them like I did! read more

Having the opportunity to volunteer at DC Central Kitchen with other Yelpers was a fantastic experience. There was about 30 volunteers across a few organizations and we worked with each other to wash, peel, prep food to support local DC families. It was a great experience and something I would love to do a few times a year. It's definitely a great way to give back if you don't mind being in the kitchen. Book way in advance because they fill up fast! read more

I come here with clients, and staff is pleasant and try to help my clients. I really appreciate their tentative character and somewhat caring manner. Since I'm a CSW, they treat my nicely and help whatever I bring my client for. Good place! read more

This is a great place to volunteer and prep food for the kitchen. I really like that they have a culinary program that trains people to work in food service and beyond. They also employ a lot of graduates or those who have benefited from their programs. It was a very positive and fun atmosphere and all the students in the culinary program were very friendly and happy to be there. Will definitely have to come back and volunteer again! read more

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We volunteer here about 4 times per year. We love this place, especially the 5-8 pm shift. They get us in, get us to working, and pretty.much leave us alone. There isn't a bunch of red-tape to give back to the community. read more

I used Fresh Start Catering, a project of DC Central Kitchen, for my wedding this winter. They did a fantastic job the day of the event. The staff was very personable and the good was great. T hey were not totally seamless to work with on the prep, but I ended up being very glad we chose them. Catering was the biggest ticket item at our wedding and I was glad the expense went to support a good cause like DC Central Kitchen. read more

We had a group come all the way from Harrisonburg to volunteer with this organization! We had a great time! The staff was super friendly and was very appreciative of us being there! Definitely would recommend trying to volunteer with them! read more

Volunteering at DC Central Kitchen with a group of fantastic Yelp Elites (Chris C, Tatsu O, Sophie U, Alexis B, Bryan W, and Yelp DC's awesome community manager Kimberly S. and her husband Rob) was an incredible opportunity. DC Central Kitchen prepares over 5,000 meals each day with food from local food businesses, farms, and other donations. With the recent dramatic drops in temperature around here, that number has risen to just over 6,000. The kitchen also trains unemployed men and women in the culinary arts and food service. The nationally recognized "community kitchen" gives you just that feeling - community. DC Central Kitchen has some of the kindest, down to earth people who are working to make a positive change each and everyday. DC Central Kitchen's model unites schools, businesses, and community organizations around a set of solutions that can help children and parents facing serious challenges to break the cycle of poverty, hunger, and poor health for good. A feature of volunteering at DCCK that I appreciate is the ability to give back to the DC community based on your schedule (you sign up online) without requiring that you make a weekly commitment. You can come once and back again whenever and however many times you please. If you are looking to book a group sign up, Kimberly suggested you book well in advance due to its rising popularity. It a great service event to do with a friend, a group of friends, or go solo! Trust me, you will make friends with the permanent staff there, its hard not to! I definitely see myself returning to the DCCK headquarters to volunteer with Morning/Afternoon/Evening Meal Prep or with their "First Helping Street Outreach" program. read more