Centers For Independence’s New Commercial Kitchen Strengthens Summer Meals Program
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The need for summer meals is undeniable. In Milwaukee, tens of thousands of children qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches during the academic year. However, with schools closed, these children face a significant hunger gap during the summer months. The Summer Meals Program aims to bridge that gap.
The renovation of Centers for Independence’s (CFI) new production kitchen at Concordia 27, a mixed-use development providing affordable housing, community spaces and resources to address inequities in the Near West Side neighborhood, has enhanced its ability to provide healthy summer meals to local children. A longtime community contributor to the Summer Meals “Milwaukee Model,” a Hunger Task Force-led approach to meal collaboration across the city, CFI brings invaluable expertise in food service and job training to prepare and deliver over 270,000 meals each summer.
“CFI’s commitment to fighting hunger perfectly aligns with our mission,” says Matt King, CEO of Hunger Task Force. “The expanded kitchen will play a crucial role in ensuring no child goes hungry this summer.”
The newly renovated kitchen is a game-changer for CFI. With increased capacity and state-of-the-art equipment, CFI is set to make an even greater impact on the lives of Milwaukee’s children. The remodel features more prep stations, industrial-grade appliances and a walk-in cooler, all designed to support a focus on fresh and nutritious ingredients.
Key Improvements and Benefits:
Expanded Capacity: The new kitchen is larger and better equipped, enabling CFI to prepare 18,000 meals each day during the summer (and 22,000 – 28,000 meals each school day), to meet the growing demand in Milwaukee.
Modern Equipment: State-of-the-art cooking and food preparation equipment has been installed, allowing for faster and more efficient meal production.
Optimized Workflow: The kitchen layout streamlines the meal preparation process, reduces waste and maximizes productivity.
Increased Food Safety: The new kitchen adheres to strict food safety standards, ensuring the highest quality and safety of meals served to children.
Fresh and Healthy Meals: The expanded space accommodates larger quantities of fresh produce, allowing CFI to create more diverse and nutritious meal options.
“This expanded kitchen is more than just a place to prepare meals,” said Heidi Chada, Vice President of Employment and Commercial Services at CFI. “It’s a symbol of our collective commitment to ensuring that every child has access to the nourishment they need to thrive.”
CFI employs nearly 800 people and 80 work directly in food service. Beyond providing meals, CFI’s new production kitchen supports essential programs focused on job training and workforce development. Through culinary education and hands-on experience, the organization empowers individuals to build sustainable careers. “Our job training programs are designed to equip people with the skills they need to succeed,” said Chada. “The new kitchen provides an excellent training ground for our participants.”
CFI’s new footprint at Concordia 27, and longstanding partnership with Hunger Task Force, demonstrates a solid commitment to Milwaukee. By serving more summer meals and empowering individuals through job training, CFI is helping end hunger for our community.
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Hunger Task Force is Milwaukee’s Free & Local food bank and Wisconsin’s anti-hunger leader. The organization’s core values are Dignity, Justice, Equity, Compassion and Stewardship. Hunger Task Force feeds people today by providing healthy and culturally appropriate food to hungry children, families and seniors in the community absolutely free of charge. Hunger Task Force also works to end future hunger by advocating for strong public policies and nutrition programs at the local, state and federal level.