First lady Michelle Obama is photographed in her newly released book, American Grown, wearing a salmon-colored cardigan as she helps dish out food to the men and women who walked through the doors of Miriam’s Kitchen.
That was in 2009, and the Foggy Bottom nonprofit that serves the homeless and hungry of D.C. has been supported by the White House ever since. Miriam’s Kitchen is on the White House radar now, said Steve Badt, director of kitchen operations. The kitchen, located on Virginia Avenue, sits just eight blocks from the presidential quarters.
Miriam’s Kitchen receives 100 pounds of produce each month from the White House and every fall the agency is invited to the main harvesting of Kitchen Garden there.
“We’ll get around 500 pounds of awesome produce in the fall,” Badt said.
Miriam’s Kitchen, a social services agency, uses its healthy, homemade meals to draw the needy to its doors. There they can get a hearty breakfast and dinner every weekday, while also working with social workers and case managers if they choose. The kitchen also serves a “café” lunch on Wednesdays.
“We try to make everything in-house,” Badt said.
Fueled by the produce donated by the White House and several other local farmers markets, Miriam’s Kitchen feeds about 1,500 people a week.
Paul Lee Taylor has enjoyed the free meals there for 15 years. Particularly the abundance of fruits and vegetables. “It’s good food and good company,” Taylor said.
Badt said the kitchen has to be run in fifth gear, like a restaurant. He coordinates about 2,000 volunteers at different times to produce the healthy meals.
But it’s all worth it, Badt said, when he hears positive feedback from case managers. Many homeless and hungry who receive food from Miriam’s Kitchen tell case managers that those are the best meals they have had. They feel loved.
