In partnership with Operation BBQ Relief, Sporting Community Kitchen has distributed over 30,000 free meals to residents across Greater Kansas City affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sporting Community Kitchen launched on April 13 as the first major initiative of Sporting Serves, a newly established philanthropic platform in which Sporting Kansas City and The Victory Project — the club’s flagship charitable arm — unite with community partners to support families across the metropolitan area.
“Sporting Kansas City has been privileged to work alongside Operation BBQ Relief and provide thousands of free meals to families during this challenging and unprecedented time,” Sporting KC President and CEO Jake Reid said. “With generous contributions from countless volunteers and local partners, Sporting Community Kitchen is an initiative we are extremely proud of. Through the Sporting Serves platform, we look forward to supporting the Kansas City community well into the future.”
For the last six weeks, Operation BBQ Relief has partnered with two local restaurants and two food truck businesses to provide free meals for daily distribution at Sporting Community Kitchen, which served the public for the last time at lunchtime this Friday, May 22, at Children’s Mercy Park.
Sporting Community Kitchen received further support from volunteers, City Foods & Events — the exclusive catering operator of Sporting Kansas City — and multiple partners including Price Chopper, Heartland Coca-Cola, BODYARMOR and Sysco.
Founded in May 2011, Operation BBQ Relief has provided over 5 million meals throughout the United States and globally. In response to COVID-19, Operation BBQ Relief has piloted the Operation Restaurant Relief program to feed communities in need while supporting restaurants and their employees. The nonprofit organization has helped serve over 125,000 meals in the Kansas City area since March. To make a donation to Operation BBQ Relief, https://www.gofundme.com/f/operation-bbq-relief-serves-the-kansas-city-area.