Limani chefs are working with Miriam's Kitchen to prepare and distribute hundreds of meals to area residents facing food insecurity and homelessness.
The effort is part of NBC4's “Food 4 Families” campaign, which aims to address hunger in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia area.
Miriam's Kitchen feeds around 500 people every day, with a dedicated team of about five people preparing the meals from scratch. During the summer months, donated meals are a great help, as demand often increases while volunteer numbers decrease.
Limani, known for its upscale Mediterranean cuisine and beautiful views of The Wharf, took a different approach on Tuesday, as chef Ronny Zoller and his team were busy preparing special orders for Miriam's Kitchen.
“We hope people feel like they're in Greece,” Limani events director Nidia Clifton said with a smile as she packed food.
This act of generosity is especially special as Limani is the first restaurant to donate catered meals to Miriam's Kitchen since the pandemic began, making it only the second restaurant ever to donate.
Chef Cheryl Bell of Miriam's Kitchen emphasized that the timing of the donation was key, noting that the need increased during the summer months and volunteer numbers decreased. The organization is committed to providing healthy meals to unhoused and food insecure people in Washington, D.C., so these donations are invaluable.
“We're seeing a 40 percent increase in the guests we serve,” Bell said, “so donations are critical to the success of our programs.”
Limani hopes his efforts will inspire other restaurants to join in similar efforts.
“We feel so blessed to be able to help people in need and realize this doesn't happen very often,” Clifton said.
Limani has committed to donating catered meals on a quarterly basis, with the goal of returning to Miriam's Kitchen within three months.
Help alleviate hunger by joining NBC4 and Telemundo 44's “Food 4 Families” campaign. Donations contribute to year-round community partnerships that provide vital support to neighbors in need throughout the DMV region.
For more information or to donate, visit NBC Washington's Food 4 Families page.
