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BFHP Awarded Soup Kitchen of the Year by Alameda County Community Food Bank – February, 2014

Berkeley Food & Housing Project was named “Best Soup Kitchen of the Year in 2013” by the Alameda County Community Food Bank. BFHP was selected among 49 Food Bank partner agencies who serve hot meals in Alameda.

In giving the award, the Food Bank stated: “Berkeley Food & Housing Project joined the Food Bank in 1998. Berkeley Food and Housing Project is receiving this award today for their excellent food programming and quality of service to the Berkeley community. As one of the most widely known and popular service organizations in Berkeley, their soup kitchen provides thousands of hot meals to homeless men, women and children, with an emphasis on nutrition and access.”

BFHP’s history began with hot meal service, starting as an emergency response to the burgeoning number of homeless individuals in Berkeley in the 1970s. Over forty years, the agency has transformed into a nationally known homeless services agency providing housing case management for women and children, men, veterans, and people suffering severe mental illness. Hot meals continue to be a staple of BFHP’s services and a gateway for the agency to connect homeless individuals to housing case management services.

Chef Andre Green was specifically named in the award. Andre joined BFHP in 2011. He is responsible for 150 meals per day, five days a week, totaling over 100,000 hot meals served per year. His meals are served at the Multi-Service Center for drop-in daytime clients, the North County Women’s Center, and the Men’s Overnight Shelter.

Andre holds a degree in culinary arts and has worked in food service for 33 years. He moved into the non-profit sector of food service in 2004. He emphasizes that his kitchen staff understand and adhere to the mission of non-profit work. Andre states, “My philosophy is that everyone has the right to nutritious, well-prepared food, housing, and basic necessities.”