I am a family physician who has lived and worked with the underserved of San Diego since 2004. I believe that access to health care and food is a human right. In light of recent cuts to food aid, the need for food assistance is more important than ever, especially in vulnerable immigrant and refugee communities.

A local San Diego community that serves diverse newcomer groups has a project to build a commercial kitchen. The goal is to get the kitchen working and functional so that other important work can be done at the immigrant and refugee center.

Please consider donating to this worthy cause. See the details below.

Kristin Brownell MD, MPH

San Diego, CA

The center needs ~ $30,000 in upgrades to make it functional to be able receive food donations from the food bank.

The money would be used for:

-Construction: flooring (non-slip), FRP wall panels, ceiling tiles,, dry wall/paint, ventilation ducts.

-Electrical: GFCI outlets, LED kitchen kights, wiring upgrades, breaker panel.

-Plumbing: 3-compartment sink, hand-washsink, mop sink, grease trap, floor drains, faucets, hot water heater.

-Hood System: commercial exhaust hood, filters, fire supression system, make-up air, roof vent.

-Cooking Equipment: commercial stove, oven, grill/griddle, microwave, steam table, warmers.

-Refrigeration: commercial fridge, freezer, prep table, ice machine.

-Prep & Storage: stainless prep tables, cutting boards, ingredient bins, shelving racks.

-Sanitation: dishwasher (if possible), trash cans, cleaning supplies, soap/paper towel dispensers, floor mats.

Safety: fire extinguishers ( ClassK), exit signs, first kit, thermometers.

Misc: pots/pans, utensils, containers, carts, aprons, gloves.

The local San Diego center is currently developing a fully licensed commercial kitchen to support low-income families, refugees, asylum seekers, and food-insecure households.

This project aims to transform an underutilized kitchen area into a certified commercial facility capable of providing sustained nutrition support, job readiness training, and cultural community programming.

Community Need

City Heights is home to thousands of immigrant and refugee families facing: food insecurity, unemployment and limited workforce readiness, insufficient access to affordable meals, cultural, linguistic, and systemic barriers.

Many newcomer communities continue to experience significant need due to language constraints, lack of local family support, and delayed access to public services.

A certified, operational commercial kitchen is critical to expand the center's work in serving these populations.

Program Purpose:

The Commercial Kitchen will provide:

1. Food Security Services

-Weekly hot meal distribution

-Emergency meal support for new refugee arrivals

-Food preparation for vulnerable families

-Meal services for homeless neighbors

2. Workforce Development

-Culinary skills training

-Kitchen safety certification

-Food handling certification

-Paid youth training opportunities

3. Community Empowerment

-Cultural cooking workshops

-Family nutrition education

-Intergenerational community engagement

Project Goals:

-Certify the kitchen to commercial standards

-Increase meal capacity by 400% within 12 months

-Serve 500+ individuals monthly

-Train 50+ youth and adults annually

-Scale food distribution partnerships citywide

Scope of Work

Renovation & equipment needs include:

-Commercial flooring, FRP walls, ceiling systems

-Plumbing upgrades with code compliance

-Ventilation and commercial hood installation

-Electrical and lighting reinforcement

-Food-grade refrigeration equipment

-Cooking and warming equipment

-ADA and safety compliance measures

Anticipated Outcomes

-Expanded capacity for community feeding programs

-Creation of sustainable food programs

-Improved stability for refugee families

-Increased workforce placement opportunities

-Strengthened neighborhood resilience

Long-Term Impact

This kitchen will function as a permanent humanitarian and training hub serving:

-low-income households

-recent immigrants

-refugees and asylum seekers

-elderly residents

-youth without support systems

It will represent a legacy of dignity, empowerment, service, and community transformation.

Thank you for consideration.