OUR STORY

We trace our beginnings to Berkeley Food Network (BFN), a non-profit organization that sources and distributes high-quality food to the food insecure. As a response to the spike in food insecurity brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, volunteers at BFN began transforming the sudden surplus of donated foods from shuttered restaurants and food businesses into healthy meals for people in need.  

 

When BFN's prepared food program ceased operations in June of 2023, our group of dedicated volunteers resolved that this very important service to our community would not end. We found a new home for our operation and began cooking again—as Dandelion Kitchen.

 

We continue to work closely with BFN to source fruits and vegetables, recovered primarily from Berkeley Bowl market, as well as donated food from Alameda County Community Food Bank. Local food merchants that provide us with ingredients include Acme Bread, the Cheeseboard Collective, Oaktown Spice Shop and Daily Bread.

 

Since restarting our work, we have been preparing upwards of 750 meals each week, putting us on track to deliver 30,000-40,000 meals over the next year. We estimate that those efforts will wind up diverting close to 10 tons of recovered food from the waste stream.