Our Story

The idea hit us during a late-night conversation in our kitchen. We'd just finished hosting another young adult event in Dallas. Everyone had an amazing time. The night was filled with meaningful connections and genuine enjoyment. But we kept hearing the same thing: "I want to do more. I want to give back. I want to make a difference."

 

As leaders in Dallas' young Jewish community, we (that's us, Mendy and Mushka) spent years creating spaces for people to connect. But we noticed something: the most meaningful moments always happened in the kitchen. Whether it was prepping for Shabbat dinner or cooking for a holiday gathering, people opened up when they were in the kitchen together.

 

Then we learned something that stopped us in our tracks: right here in Dallas County, we have the fourth-highest rate of food-insecure children in the nation. In our own backyard, 640,000 neighbors don't know where their next meal is coming from, including one in five kids.

 

We thought about all the young professionals we knew who wanted to help but felt disconnected from traditional volunteering. We thought about how much talent and energy exists in our community. And we thought about how many families could benefit from a fresh, home-cooked meal made with love.

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The answer was sitting right in front of us: a kitchen.

Not just any kitchen—but a place where young adults could come together, roll up their sleeves, and cook real meals for real families. No canned food drives or reheated, preservative-filled frozen dishes. Just wholesome, fresh, nutritious meals made from scratch and delivered the same day.
 

When we pitched the idea to a local philanthropist, their excitement validated what we already felt in our gut: this wasn't just about feeding people. This was about empowering young people to engage with their community in a whole new way.
 

When we walk into Our Giving Kitchen and see young professionals from every background laughing together while they cook, or when we get a thank you note from a family who received a meal, we know we're onto something special. True, we've got big plans for the future of OGK, but at its heart, this is simply about bringing people together to help their neighbors.
 

Want to cook with us? Our kitchen is open, our recipes are ready, and there's always room for more at our table.
 

Come make something amazing with us.