Impact Programs

NWK was launched in early April 2020, as Covid-19 shuttered the city’s small businesses, restaurants and office buildings. We knew it was critical to act fast to support our local restaurants, particularly those we’ve partnered with for our Lunch Out Wednesday program. Audible employees reached out to Mayor Ras J. Baraka’s office and asked how best to support the city, and learned food was an immediate need. We worked closely with the mayor’s office, World Central Kitchen, chef Marcus Samuelsson and community organizations, and three weeks later, NWK was up and running. The goal was to fund area restaurants to cook and deliver nutritious meals to senior, low-income and disabled housing residents who were struggling to access healthy food during the pandemic.

Working with community stakeholders, NWK identified city residents most in need, reaching more than 10,000 residents across 70 locations, NWK has delivered over 1.6 million meals while keeping the lights on and cooks, servers and delivery staff employed at dozens of our most cherished restaurants.

The next iteration, Newark Working Kitchens Delivers, harnessed the purchasing power of local employers to sustain area restaurants, offering subsidized food delivery choices to corporate employees with a critical meal match for Newark’s most vulnerable residents.

Investing in these community staples creates long-lasting and sustained value for businesses, workers, and the city.