SPOKANE, Wash. — Following a deadly attack on World Central Kitchen's convoy in Gaza, a Spokane man who previously volunteered for the non-profit is sharing how instrumental the organization is for those in need.
Former Spokane chef Jeremy Hansen volunteered for World Central Kitchen in 2017. Hansen said his two months handing out meals to communities in crisis gave him a unique perspective on the crisis in Gaza, and encourages anyone who can to donate to the non-profit.
On Friday morning, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) admitted it was responsible for the deadly attack on World Central Kitchen's convoy in Gaza on Monday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that the country’s forces had carried out the “unintended strike ... on innocent people.” Seven people were killed in the attack and two Israeli officers were dismissed from their roles as a result of the attack.
IDF issued a statement on the attack on Friday, stating in part, "The investigation's findings indicate that the incident should not have occurred." IDF also said the people who approved the strike were under the assumption they were targeting Hamas operatives.
World Central Kitchen is a non-profit that provides meals to people facing food insecurity, including people living through a national or natural disaster.
World Central Kitchen is a charity that provides meals to people who are facing food insecurity. Former Spokane chef Jeremy Hansen used to be a volunteer with the non-profit. In 2017, Hansen, a former Spokane chef, traveled to Puerto Rico with World Central Kitchen after Hurricane Maria. The city of Spokane helped raise the funds to get Hansen and another local chef to Puerto Rico.
"It kind of awakened me as a human," Hansen said.
Hansen was in Puerto Rico for a total of nine weeks, cooking and handing out thousands of meals. He said the gratitude from locals was an amazing experience, one that gave him a unique perspective on the crisis in Gaza.
"They're wiping out all the food storage areas and everything. It's probably worse in Gaza, actually, unfortunately," he said.
Following Monday's deadly attack, Hansen shared a QR code to his Instagram page, encouraging people to donate to World Central Kitchen. For more information, click here.
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