Our Story

Our Giving Kitchen emerged as a rally of hope and togetherness during the turbulent days of the 2020 Covid pandemic. With many families newly insecure and societal divisions deepening, OGK was founded as a remedy for both of these ills, driven by a vision of uniting people across all segments of the community to prepare and discreetly deliver hot, nutritious food to those in need. 

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From the very beginning, Our Giving Kitchen has aspired to be more than just another food pantry. Our desire is to create a space for volunteers of diverse backgrounds to come together with a shared purpose, to engage each other in shared experiences, and to find a purpose in helping others. This spirit is baked into the ethos of this organization, making it a unique space where differences evaporate and a culture of giving takes center stage.

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Our community kitchen is located in the vibrant Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The site is home to a modern and well-equipped commercial kitchen, designed to facilitate efficient meal preparation and collaborative work. The facility also has dedicated staging, packing, and storage areas ensuring that meals are prepared and handled with the utmost care and ready for quick distribution. 

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By 2021 our volunteer base grew to dozens of regulars, prompting Our Giving Kitchen to forge new relationships with other Pittsburgh nonprofits. Since that time we have cooperative partnerships with Pittsburgh Cares, 412 Food Rescue, Squirrel Hill Food Pantry, Friendship Circle, The Veterans Place, GIFT and Outreached Arms. These organizations each play an important role in promoting civic engagement and reaching those in need, introducing us to new networks of volunteers, reaching households outside of our community, and magnifying our reach and impact.

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In 2024 alone, Our Giving Kitchen has mobilized over 1,000 volunteers. These individuals cooked, packaged and delivered over 20,000 meals. 

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At the heart of OGK is our volunteer community. Want to cook with us? Our kitchen is open, our recipes are ready and there’s always room for more at the table.