Help NYC Line Cook Ashanti Recover from Brain Surgery

On November 4th, our dear friend Ashanti will undergo brain surgery with Dr. Rohan Ramakrishna. The procedure is necessary to help her return to doing what she loves most, cooking up a storm in the kitchen and simply being herself again.

Ashanti is a chef at HAGS in Manhattan and also cooks with Resident, a collective of chefs who design fun, creative private dinners. Originally from Belize, she has cooked and baked her way across the U.S. From Ohio to D.C. to New York, always pouring love and care into her food and community.

If you know Ashanti, you know she’s a tireless worker and someone who always takes care of her people. Right now, she’s working while parts of her body are swelling and shutting down. I’m personally amazed that any human has the capacity to do that. All of us can understand how scary it can be to navigate something like this emotionally. This GoFundMe is hope that we can bind together as a community and help her navigate it financially.

While Ashanti does have health insurance, her out-of-pocket cost for surgery alone will be $10,000. And because hourly line cooks rarely receive paid medical leave, she also needs support to cover one month of basic living expenses during recovery:

Rent: $1,200

Food: $1,500 (full healthy nourishing meals)

Phone: $80

Utilities: $120

Miscellaneous (transportation to check-ups, recovery supplies, household items): $300

Subtotal (living expenses): $3,200

Surgery: $10,000

Total Goal: $13,200

We’ve broken down Ashanti’s living expenses to show exactly what she needs each month. If you’re able, you can cover any of these costs in full but anything makes a difference.

Every dollar donated will go directly to supporting Ashanti through surgery and recovery. If you can’t give, please consider sharing this fundraiser so that others may help.