2025 Impact Report & Our Vision for 2026: Growing Together

cookingforgood1
14 hours ago
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At The Good Kitchen, we believe that rescuing food is about more than just reducing waste—it’s about creating opportunities. As we close the chapter on 2025, we are filled with pride reflecting on the tons of food recovered and the many families who have become a vital part of our network across Mussomeli and Acquaviva Platani.

We are concluding a year of goals achieved to embark on a year of dreams to be realised. In this edition, we present our annual impact report and share why 2026 is set to be a milestone year for our community kitchen. From launching new youth mentorship programs to expanding our reach within the territory, our mission continues to grow in strength and scope.

Join us as we take a look back at our collective achievements and share what we are cooking up for the future!

2025: A Year of Connection and Growth

Before we dive into the numbers, we want to share the moments that defined our year. In 2025, The Good Kitchen became more than a kitchen; it became a bridge between cultures, generations, and cities.

Milestones & Global Reach

Celebrating 4 Years: We marked our 4th anniversary, reflecting on how much our community has grown since the first day we lit our stoves.
The Bridge to London: We were thrilled to collaborate with Chefs Manifesto and OmVed Gardens to host a Community Kitchen Action Hub. The aim is to be a part of a network that supports other community kitchens.
From Sicily to the World: Our founder, Danny McCubbin, took our story to the global stage at TED Talk Boston, about PLANET ACTIONS event, sharing our model of community food rescue with an international audience.

Strengthening Local Partnerships

Building Bridges with Associazione Strauss: One of the most meaningful moments of the year was a private lunch between the entire Strauss team and The Good Kitchen team. This gathering allowed us to introduce ourselves individually and share our visions, creating a deeper personal bond that has significantly strengthened our collaboration. We continue to welcome their international volunteers to our table, fostering a global exchange right here in Mussomeli.
The "Approdo del Sé" Project: We were proud to be part of a powerful new triad in Mussomeli. Alongside Associazione Strauss and the Local Municipality, we have launched the Approdo del Sé project. It was designed to create a supportive "landing place" for personal growth and social inclusion, combining our resources to better serve the community. We enjoyed running a variety of projects from cooking classes to a women´s circle.
Fueling Tradition: We were honored to provide the dinner for the Corsa Notturna intorno a Mussomeli, supporting our local athletes and traditions.
Nature & Community: Through our partnership with Il Parco che Vive, we organized picnics and outdoor activities, reconnecting our community with the beautiful Sicilian landscape.

Solidarity at the Table Our most meaningful moments happened while sharing a meal. This year, we strengthened our bonds with local organizations through special community lunches (pranzi) with:

Comunità Alloggio Vanessa
Casa Famiglia Rosetta These gatherings reminded us that a shared meal is the most powerful tool for inclusion and dignity.

Our Impact in Numbers: A Year of Abundance

Statistics tell a story, but these comparisons show the true scale of what we achieved together in 2025. Here is the footprint of our work in Mussomeli and Acquaviva:

9,184 kg of Rescued Food

This translates to 18,368 plates of food saved from being wasted.
It’s equivalent to 230 full supermarket trolleys.
In weight, that’s like rescuing two full-grown African elephants!

2,159 Visitors

Enough people to fill 45 large school buses or 11 large cinema theaters.
If we all held hands, we would form a line 3.2 km long (enough to cross 30 football fields!).
Statistically, we welcomed a new visitor every 4 hours, day and night, every single day of the year.

3,579 Meals Shared

To serve them all at once, we would need a dining table 2.1 km long.
The plates would stretch for 20 city blocks; you could walk for 25 minutes and still see food on the table!
If we stacked the washed plates, the pile would be 100 meters high—as tall as a 35-story building.

1,509 Food Parcels Delivered

If lined up, these boxes would stretch for 600 meters (the length of 6 football fields).
If stacked, the parcels would reach 450 meters high—taller than the Empire State Building (381m) and nearly 1.5 times the height of the Eiffel Tower.

40 Events & Workshops

A hub of constant activity: we hosted nearly one event every single week, sharing skills, culture, and community spirit.

Community Impact: Built by You

The heart of The Good Kitchen beats thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our local community and the Municipality. Every donation, large or small, has directly improved our ability to serve Mussomeli and Acquaviva.

Equipping Our Mission In 2025, our kitchen underwent a true transformation. We received essential equipment that has allowed us to work more professionally and safely, including:

Stainless steel countertops: Perfect for high-volume food preparation.
New kitchen utensils and chairs: Making our space more functional and welcoming for everyone.
Daily essentials: We are deeply grateful for the constant supply of pantry staples like olive oil, tomato sauce and salt, which are the foundation of every meal we cook.

A turning point for our project: Moving from personal cars to a dedicated vehicle.

Before this, we relied entirely on the personal cars of our wonderful volunteers to rescue food. Now, having a vehicle of our own (that we named Koala) has changed everything. It has given us the independence and efficiency to collect large volumes of food from supermarkets and suppliers every day, ensuring that no donation is ever left behind.

To the Municipality and the families who have contributed: Your trust in us is what keeps our stoves burning. Thank you for providing the tools we need to serve with dignity.

Community Voices: Marco’s Story

Who is Marco? Marco is much more than a volunteer; he is the heart and soul of our Sunday mornings. A resident of Casa Famiglia Rosetta, Marco has been with The Good Kitchen since the very beginning. Every single week, he walks through our doors with a radiant smile and a warm embrace for everyone he meets.

His dedication is a testament to the power of community. For Marcos, the kitchen isn't just a place to rescue food; it’s a place where he has found a family, shared his joy, and helped us build a space where everyone is welcome.

In his own words:

"Good morning, I have met so many very good friends. I love working in the kitchen. I help with Mr. Franco and Mrs. Calogera, cooking together. Many parents like Antonella’s parents, and José’s parents. Valeria, Monica. Mrs. Calogera, her children and grandchildren. I have helped... They have helped me to make the kitchen beautiful and big. Mamma Vera, her daughters, and so many parents, so much love."

Looking Ahead: Our Vision for 2026

As we step into this new year, The Good Kitchen is ready to grow, evolve, and deepen its roots. While we will share more specific details in our upcoming editions, we want to give you a glimpse of what’s simmering in our kitchen for 2026.

Our 5th Anniversary Celebration This year marks a major milestone: our 5th Birthday on July 31^th. We are planning a special celebration to honor every volunteer, donor, and neighbour who has made these five years possible. It’s not just our birthday; it’s a celebration of the spirit of Mussomeli and Acquaviva.

A New Chapter of Mentorship and Social Inclusion One of our most ambitious projects this year is opening our doors to a group of young people fulfilling their community service. Under the guidance and mentorship of our founder, Danny McCubbin, we are creating a space for reflection, growth, and second chances.

We believe that those who have faced challenges have the most powerful lessons to share. By providing a supportive environment to work and reflect, we hope their journeys of "falling and rising" will inspire both young people and adults in our community. It’s about more than service; it’s about transformation.

Growth & Community Support We have big plans for expansion, and to make them a reality, we need you more than ever. Our goal is to continue doing what we do best—rescuing food and sharing meals—while reaching even more families and creating more opportunities for connection.

Stay tuned, as we will be sharing how you can get involved and support these new initiatives very soon!

“The table is set for an incredible 2026.

Thank you for being part of our story.”

With love, The Good Kitchen Team