Chefs Feeding Families
Food Relief & Meal Program in Virginia | A community-driven response to hunger and crisis that provides fresh, chef-prepared meals to families in need. Built by chefs, powered by community, and rooted in compassion.
COVID-19 Reponse
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted schools and daily life in 2020, Chef David Guas responded within 24 hours to support families throughout Arlington, Virginia—home to Bayou Bakery.
Emergency Community Meal Program
On March 17, 2020, Chef Guas and his team quickly transformed the front of Bayou Bakery into an outdoor relief kitchen.
They began serving Red Beans & Rice, a nourishing New Orleans staple historically used to feed families during times of hardship, including the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The goal was simple: provide immediate, accessible meals to families impacted by school closures and economic disruption.
Chefs Feeding Families Initiative
To expand the effort, Guas brought in a partner, Real Food for Kids, to launch Chefs Feeding Families, a coordinated community relief program.
The initiative provided free, plant-based meals to:
Arlington County families
Military households
Food-insecure and underserved communities
As the program grew, additional local chefs joined the effort, scaling its reach across Northern Virginia.
Since launch, the initiative has served 225,000+ meals to families in need.
Ongoing Impact
Although the immediate crisis of COVID-19 has shifted, food insecurity among school-age children and families continues.
Chefs Feeding Families remains an ongoing effort focused on community support, access to nutritious meals, and long-term food relief partnerships.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 on school children still remains. Visit Real Food For Kids to learn more about how to get involved. We appreciate any and all you can do!
