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Linnea Covington
Chris O'Donnell, who used to cook at Mario Batali's restaurant Lupa, is now volunteering his time to cook for Occupy protesters.
Food donations started to trickling in during the first week of Occupy Wall Street at Zuccotti Park in New York City. First came the pies anonymously ordered from Steve’s Pizza, which delivered them from across the street to the hungry protesters. Next, helpful citizens brought their own edible creations to supply the masses, and, as the crowd grew, so did those contributions. Now, they have a high-functioning system called The People’s Kitchen.
“We feed probably 1,000 people a day,” said Chris O’Donnell, a 24-year-old professional cook who helped organize the sprawling kitchen that rests in the heart of the protest space. “And tonight, we will probably serve about 2,000.”
On Friday afternoon, they were on round three of lunch service, which included sandwiches made with fresh bread and stuffed with cold cuts or peanut butter, rice and beans and a hearty green salad. The food line stretched about 15 people deep and consisted of all sorts, including a man in a pressed business suit, another wearing feathers in his hair and plaid flannel pants, and a woman all in black with heavy eye makeup.
O’Donnell, who used to cook at Mario Batali’s West Village restaurant Lupa, started volunteering in the makeshift kitchen more than three weeks ago and saw the operation grow. Now, the volunteers have a few off-site areas in Brooklyn where they cook the produce, rice, beans and any meat given to them by various upstate farms or co-ops, or purchased with donated funds. According to O’Donnell, they spend between $1,500 to $2,000 daily, and given the numbers of people who eat three meals a day, that means they feed each one for about $1.50 to $2.
Linnea Covington
Volunteers break bread for Occupy Wall Street protesters.
Not everyone sees the volunteer chefs’ work as part of a good cause. Recently the New York Post ran an article about chef Eric Smith, 38, who formerly worked at the Sheraton in midtown Manhattan. “Last night, for example, while your family of four may have been forced to resort to Hamburger Helper, thanks to Smith’s culinary magic, hordes of Occupy Wall Street protesters instead feasted on organic chicken, spaghetti Bolognese, roasted beet and sheep’s milk-cheese salad and wild heirloom potatoes,” Post writer Rebecca Rosenberg assessed. While Smith disagreed with the criticism, it hasn’t stopped him from continuing to whip up nutritious, hot meals.
“We are here to feed the people,” said O’Donnell, who mentioned that regardless of whether people are there to protest, if they are hungry, they should eat. “This is an example of how it should be — people shouldn’t be hungry.”
Linnea Covington
Many people have been bringing food to share with protesters.
And we spotted one 80-year-old man taking that to heart, saying he just happened to walk by and decided to stay and eat. “I am amazed how fresh it is,” said the man, who declined to give his name while adding that he didn’t care much for the cause.
More and more everyday people are also continuing to share food with others during the protest. For 38 days, Jack Boyle, 56, has passed out treats he buys from Trader Joe's or Whole Foods. On Friday he had a supply cookies and, as he handed the goods to the kitchen staff, he likened the movement to a family that he wants to help feed.
Avi Saban, 24, who has dedicated himself to volunteering with the information committee, only grabs the free food when he has been working long hours and is really hungry. Or when, as happened during our conversation, someone hands him a handful of cookies.
“People donate some amazing food,” he said. “And you should see the lines for dinner, it’s out and around the park.”
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This is one of the best things about the Occupy movement -the return to communities relying on each other, supporting each other, and cooking real, organic food for each other! It really is inspiring. I'm watching Democracy Now! right now and they are talking about the reprehensible Occupy Oakland raid. They have been covering the movement from the beginning and even did a tour of Zuccotti Park once for any one who can't make it to NYC. Check it out if you haven't yet: http://www.democracynow.org/tags/occupy_wall_street.
lulz. if this was a tea bag rally, they'd all be saying, 'go get your own damn food.'
We are the 99%!
Businesses should stop feeding the protesters, then maybe they'll go away! It's pretty hard to protest on an empty stomach, isn't it?
You're looking at a bunch of freeloaders getting handouts. That's not democracy. Get an education.
As long as its free, they'll stay. Otherwise, they will move on. The article even talks about some coming just to eat. What a joke.
Zaruski, if it was a TEA Party protest, there wouldn't be arrests. The intolerant right wingers (and trolls) who are posting nasty things here about the protesters would be claiming that it is their right to rally, and protest. There would be cries of free speech, and civil liberties being trampled by the right wing posters, if it was a TEA Party protest, and the police started arresting people.
Actually, the Tea Party hasn't gotten violant, or caused any trouble at their rallies. I'm not a Tea Partier either. So there does seem to be a difference here from an interested outside person.
The Tea Party also does not leave behind mountains of filth and trash for someone else to clean up.
Somehow the far right has made the average person believe that a worldwide protest movement spanning cities across the world is just a "bunch of hippies"
There was no violence until the police turned up and started to make arrests, and the protesters have been doing their own cleanup. There has been no 'piles of trash' except when it is gathered into one place to be picked up and hauled away.
Stop with the canards, already. No matter how many times you repeat them, they still are not true.
Google OWS backers. Soros (through moveon and other avenues) and Adbusters (a Canadian anticapitalist group) are backing the movement (food, medical supplies). Soros downed a European country and made a boatload of money in the process, he also shorted the British pound and manipulated that currency. He's doing it here with OWS and I don't know what he's shorting, but he's gonna make a fortune.
In one word = MOB
Not so; there's a full range of our American population there, and the park is small; not really room for what you may be imagining. Instead of commenting from your high horse, get down on the ground, and tangle with some of the very good minds in the park - you will be rewarded if you go with an open mind, and heart.
Or if you happen to have a differing opinion, they will beat the crap out of you.
Yes merry I would have to agree with Dan. I doubt very much that there are any open minds there, just like there aren't any open minds at TEA party rallies. Both groups are only open to hearing what they already believe.
Only if you mean that MOB stands for Managed Occupied Believers with hope for a better U.S.. Nurses, Doctors, lawyers, students, veterans, teachers, police, retired, etc.... We are the 99%. We want the 1% to stop ruling our lives through unfair advantages that are placed by our congress at the expense of the 99%.
Dan,
You have no clue. There have been numerous counter protests throughout the country with not one incidence of violence reported all though the Occupy people have been taunted and confronted. The only confrontations have been with the police and almost all was instigated by the police. There is representation from all ages, ethnicities and social strata. The protest ranges from people who can't pay their mortgages or lost their retirement to activists from the 60s to students who can't pay their student loans whose parents have leans against their homes.
jkh
Joemike & Jim--- Actually there are numerous incidents reported by police of violence during these "occupy" gatherings and not a single one at ANY of the tea party gatherings. Also, after the tea party gatherings, the local city does not have to spend thousands of dollars cleaning up the demonstraters trash.
I'm not part of either group, but it's no contest of which group I'd rather be a part of. Both groups are against the status quo and in that regard, both groups are correct.
Mother-2450128, I am a Veteran, Retired, Re-hired, married to a teacher, paying my bills on time, kind of guy. Not one of the 99% these idiots and you claim to be. I say the “Occupy this or that” crowd are the 1%, the bottom 1% that want life handed to them on a platter and not have to do anything but pitch a fit about life not being fair.
Robert-2450128, I too have served and am one of the working and educated professionals that is closer to retirement age. The country that I served for was "leave no man behind". We are only as strong as the weakest link. When we allow this massive inequity it puts our country at risk.
Learn about the "Occupy movement" from them and not from Faux news.
I was at Zuccotti Park two days ago, and the kitchen crew is amazing !!! Joyful in what they do; skilled; international; adept at speedy preparations - it's fantastic to see them in action. And we should all be as mindful of sharing our skills and helping others. As winter comes in, I am wondering whether they will be feeding the homeless on dark, cold nights, and the protesters may only show up during the day? The efforts will surely be challenged in the days ahead. I support OccupyWallStreet/NYC TOTALLY!
Americans working together... happy dance.
Tragic - rather than working, learning, or making a contribution to society. The protesters are doing what protesters are best at. . .absolutely nothing that will ever make a positive difference in our society. Yeah, let's let people out of their student loans, let's do away with banks, let's end money as a system in our society. In other words, let's tear down so that in the anarchy we can get a part of the plunder. Everyone loses. There are things that need to be desperately fixed in our society and I'm looking forward to the greatest nation on earth exercising her voice in November, 2012. I think you'll hear that the 99% was really only about 20%
Hey, moron, people who have jobs don't protest. You think that's the problem?
Let's just forget personal accountability. Why should any of us have to pay any of our debts? Infact everything should be free. We have a RIGHT to food, shelter, health care, nice cars, expensive clothes, education, flat screen TV and I Pods. Right???????
Steve Larson-282530: Do what you've always done, and you'll get what you've always gotten. Your characterization of the Occupy movement is false. You take the most extreme views and ascribe them to everyone. Do you think that making a lot of money makes you more valuable than anyone else?
This country did not become what it is because of a lot of selfish people acting alone. It became what it is because caring people acted together. They helped each other harvest, build barns, birth children, share food. The Occupy movement is reminding us that we can have a society based on generosity rather than meanness.
Sitting back and waiting for the status quo to change is just cowardly. This IS supposed to be a democracy, and as such, we have the obligation to work together to make our society the BEST it can be. We all need each other, even though we are not all perfect.
I still find it hilarious that socialists and anarchists are all about democracy all the sudden..(that was sarcasm) when it suits their needs . Explotation of democracy, capitalism and the Constitution. That's the basis of this movement.
Steve,
Are you familiar with the Intolerable Acts or the Boston Massacre. Did you miss the Edmund Pettis Bridge or the Pullman Strike. Maybe the whole Abolitionist Movement, the Womens Movement, Kent State, Earth Day, The March on Washington, Ghandi or Mandella maybe the Boston TeaParty sounds familiar or you can move to Paris and Storm the Bastille or more recently Arab Spring they are all the same and none were because people were lazy.
jkh
Vinny,
Of course in your enlightened state you realize Anarchists and Socialists are Polar opposites. The closest we have to an Anarchist in this country is Rand Paul and we have virtually no Socialists. No one anywhere advocates government ownership of industry every member of Congress are supported by and support American business whether it is Oil or Trial Lawyers they are all Capitalists. Get a clue.
jkh
I beg to differ, friend: This is the common mis-information from people who are under the false impression that the Occupy-whatevers are non-industrious, incapable whining losers. I can't speak for everyone, but all those I know (many) are working, intelligent, thoughtful people who see into the hypocrisy of the current abuse of power by the few at the top of the economic pyramid. Many are successful entrepreneurs, professors, some blue collar men and women who are brave enough and selfless enough to take time off from work when they can to take a stand for all of our sakes.
Let me get this straight....donations are made and some bring their own - but for the most part, it sounds like people are showing up - expecting to stay for days and not providing for themselves, but assuming they will be fed by the charity of others? I think I like the Wall Street Tycoons better.
At least they aren't stealing from the rest of us.
there getting money from acorn and there paying homeless people 10 bucks an hour to protest ?????? this people should be protesting to the president for bailing out the banks.
P.S. I voted for Obama but he sure lost my vote.
THERE IS NO ACORN. Stop lying.
Yes there is, they have just changed their name. Don't think for a minute they went away.
Hey dumb ass, Bush was president when the banks were bailed out.
You never voted for obama, and I'm sure you do rightwing posts for free.
You're a sorry capitalist. you should have negotiated a salary for your efforts to post misinformation on this board.
I hope they are still around because they did a lot of good for the country. It was horrible lying by breitbart and his insipid right wing cronies that were the baddies in that scenario.
How sad if you think that we believe you Jorge. I would tell you to get an education except that this only puts young people into debt these days since there is very little chance of being able to pay off your loans in a shorter period of time from schooling. Hopefully you could take a moment and go talk to the brilliant minds of the currently employed doctors, lawyers, nurses, etc... that participate in these protests. You might learn something like how wrong it was for our government to eliminate Glast-Steagul act.
Occupy is the best turnout of people since the 1970s movements. Stay strong Occupy movements.
Your inability to spell reduces your credibility. The contraction for "they are" is "they're." The possessive of they is "their". You have used "there." which means a place, incorrectly for both. Curiously it seems that some of the Wall Street "suits" are eating the food cooked by the protestors -- now that is exploitation! First they steal the income of the 99% AND then eat their food as well! Wall Street types know how to steal with both hands -- and their mouths as well.
I get the feeling that you just just let two big whoppers?? You voted for Obama and Donations are from ACORN. Both are untrue!!
what they need is to get the government involved in buying and serving the meals - everyone needs to work for the state. This is the goal according to the protesters!!!
I just love all these posts from rightwing haters who are telling us what the protestors are protesting about. (Like they would have the ability to grasp it, if it was explained to them.) You fearful haters are so off the mark, no matter what you hear on Fox News! You think there aren't Republicans who lost homes, or jobs, or who were screwed out of their pensions by Wall Street de-regulations? Protestors want: Wall Street out of our govt! Out of our Treasury! Quit scheming to get everyone's money into your pockets! Banks, lend to small businesses and rewrite mortgages! Contribute to the country you got rich in!! What is there to be afraid of in that? The ones who are afraid are the fatcats. That's why they spend so much money brainwashing the ignorant to defend them.
i sent warm coats so that they can hold out against Mother Winter. Tsar Bloomberg will just have to continue to send his Cossacks to harass and make the city look bad.
It's awesome that they allow an actual kitchen to be set up in a park like that and don't bother the protesters. The cops surely wouldn't allow this in other cities and states because they would want to arrest them immediately.
MIAMI. . .They are on private property that is the ONLY reason they have yet to be disbanded.
If you can't protest on public land, then do you really have FREEDOM to protest?
Sure you have the right to assemble. . .but you do not have the right to make yourself a nusiance to the 99 percent of the rest of the people that you are leeching off of.
The left wing organization "Acorn" is now operating under a different entity and is going door to door strong arming local businesses to donate or suffer the consequences. This is how the insurgent protesters are being organized and fed. It can be traced right back to the White House. As reported by the AP and on Drudge.
Oh God, how hilarious you are. Have you ever fact checked the Drudge report. They make politicians look like preachers.
David,, who the heck is doing the fact checking? Those people don't have an axe to grind or a political opinion? Snopes is as corrupt as any other "fact checkers".
Drudge makes up things. He once took a picture of flooded school buses from katrina and claimed that Mayor Nagin didn't use them to transport people in the city.
Drudge left out the fact that Nagin used city TRANSIT buses to do that instead.
Drudge is a rightwing hack, and journalistic clown shoes. The only people dumber than him are his readers.
As opposed to a left wing hack?
drudge is usually right on, he does not follow the main stream media 's take on politics, which is very skewed.
Some of the best conversations have helped build countries and communities was done when sitting at the table to eat. It is what we all have in common is eating and enjoying it. Some of you are so negative about things that I am glad you are not in congress, or government, we have enough negative people there. When you get to be my age you will understand that it takes every ounce of will for these people to protect your rights while all you do is act like children. Just like all the wars that men and women died for you so you could just b----h people out because YOU are not happy. Get over it cause if that is all you have to do in life then I pity you for your lack of faith.( has nothing to do with religion) I will state that before some one attacks that statement to.
one word. awesome
I suspect you have more than age on your side. Maybe a little intelligence also? I see so little of that these days. Thanks for a breath of fresh air
32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc. extracted from The Naked Communist," by Cleon Skousen: This happens to be rule 32 the Communist party has for the take over of America. Read the book you idiots
Read it. The mistake is yours. A book full of misguided facts and opinions. Are you by any chance a member of a paramilitary organization? Get off your high horse and realize that other people in this country have a different plan than going back to the dark ages. IDIOTS? really, enough
Even though I am employed I completely agree with the reasons behind the demonstrations. I have watched this develop for 15 years. When the banking system proves without a doubt it is greedy and corrupt, deregulating the banking system is not the thing to do. In my opinion we should be demonstrating in front of the capitol building, demonstrating against the bought and paid for congressmen who allowed this scenario to develop. Over the last 15 years we have allowed the ruling class of this country to rape the wealth of the middle class. We are now at the point where there is no more to give yet the republican party wants to shift more of the tax burden to the middle class and poor. When will you wake up and realize that the republican party only represents the extremely wealthy of this country? The democratic party is too splintered to represent anything or anybody. The only party who is trying to do something is the occupy crowd. What really irks me is that the same people who give congress a 14% approval rating are the same people who are making negative comments about the only people who are trying to do something about the problem. When these people on the street figure out that they can change the world with educated voting, watch out neo conservatives.
You don't really need to protest at the capitol. No matter how much money corporations have they still cannot vote. If OWS is as pervasive a movement as people here claim it is, all you have to do is go to the polls in November and elect people who will do what you want. That's exactly what happened to the democrats in 2010. The TEA party energized the conservative base and they elected people who would do what they wanted to be done in Congress.
Your turn...
The ones you voted into Congress haven't done a G D thing!
Not that I'm against the protests or anything, but where has all of this help and food been for decades for the poor and homeless? Why are people coming out in masses to help the protestors who are temporarily camping out and can get their own food? What about the people who really need it because they don't have anywhere to live or any money for food??
This. Thank you.
I've said from the word "go" that while I agree with the base points (deregulation screwed us over, likely illegal actions were taken by banks and financial institutions and not punished, etc), I've also said the protesters are, in effect, going about it the wrong way.
If all of this charity is out there, then yes indeed, why not use the resources to support a soup kitchen or similar charity? Why not take all that they have been given (and many people take great pains to point out that many protesters have jobs and provide for themselves just fine) and share with those who really, legitimately, need it?
This is one of those examples of the right idea but the wholly wrong application of it. Protesting will ultimately do little but make them pawns. Take real action: turn the food over to those who really need it and improve the lives of people who don't have a choice, remove your money (no matter how little) from major institutions and put it into local banks or credit unions, shop business that support American jobs and products, do the little daily things that CAN make an impact. Companies follow the bottom line and while they're getting rich despite protests they won't do a thing. Hit them in the wallet. They get rich because we let them.
You can't be that dense. Of course there have always been food kitchens available to the poor and homeless in most cities. Salvation Armies. Community Services Leagues. You think you should tell the supporters of #OWS what to donate and who to donate to?
I support the Occupy Wall St. protests completely. It has a much worthier cause than the tea partiers had. Amazing how the tea partiers don't want goverment in their lives until there is a tornado,hurricane ,wildfire or some other disaster and then they are crying to the government for help! I'm 100 % with the 99% and hope they can take back our country so all are treated fairly. After listening to the republican presidental debates its quite obvious they don't care about the people.No health insurance...let them die or maybe execute them. If you don't have a job..it.s your fault because the Corp took the jobs overseas .Obama has
my vote in 2012 he's at least trying and that's more than I can say for congress.
Do you really believe what you just typed? And if you think that these people represent 99% of us, you're math is badly off. These freeloaders don't represent me at all, and I'm far from being in the rich 1%.
You all need to realize that most of what you read in the news has to support the status quo. The corporate media is part of the 1%, so why should they say anything to legitimize the Occupy movement?
Don't make your decision based on what you see on TV. They will emphasize the crazy, the obnoxious, the foolish aspects of this movement. They don't want anything to change, but if you believe the corporate media, you are just as brainwashed as if you lived in Stalinist USSR and relied on Pravda for the news.
0bama eats dogsh1t and is a sob and a basterd,an illegal pos need i say more
Is Rebecca Rosenberg of the New York Post brain dead? Just who do you suppose supports the protesters? Their food is indicative of the kind of small businesses that are in danger of being wiped out by Wall Street's unrestrained greed. Duh-oh!
and the protests are in part ABOUT regular American's only being able to afford Hamburger Helper, regardless of how "hard" we work, or how many degrees we have.
Ms. Hoo - I'm a regular American and I haven't eaten hamburger helper in decades. That's the whole problem I've been posting about regarding this 99% crap. Not everyone who isn't the uberrich is dying in poverty or being relegated to eating hamburger helper and cat food. I don't care whether you are a supported of OWS or the TEA Party. The fundamental American problem today is extremism. Everyone (just about) has moved so far to the right or left that there can be no compromise, no listening, no understanding, no dialogue. You either believe what I believe or your are an idiot. That's what's really tearing this country apart, not wall street, not corporations, not poverty, not racism. It is our absolute inability to listen, hear and reach a compromise. The answer to our problems will NEVER be on the fringes, it will ALWAYS be in the middle.
There is no left left. The right has moved to far right that the center has shifted radically to the right. The people whom you describe as "left" are espousing opinons which Ronald Reagan would have endorsed. It is striking, if you compare statements made by Ronald Reagan and statements made by Pres. Obama you will feel you are standing in an echo chamber.
Obama said he admired Ronald Reagan during his 2008 campaign. It made me hesitate there a second... and think of going with Hillary....lol.
bunch a' lazy, malcontent sponges IMO. i wouldn't feed them!
versus the lazy malcontents that stay at home and do nothing but have joined up with the 101st keyboard brigades to criticize them.
Or the lazy malcontents that continue to go to work, pay taxes, invest in the economy, donate to charities, work in our communities, live our lives.
Bunch of deadbeats.
Members of the moocher/leech class of people.
MSLSD promotes them like they're some kind of heroes.
They're bums.
As one of the 53% who pay taxes I say:
"Throw the bums in jail."
some people seem to have it really easy in life.
Why don't these people get JOBS and buy their own damn food?? Sick of these protesters - many of them rich little bored kids that don't have one idea of what it is like to be a productive member of society. I pay taxes after taxes, and don't depend on anyone for anything!! proud of that, too.
I once told a bunch of starving somalis that, "get a job!" lazy bums.
How'd that work for you Rick?
It sounds as if you have not talked with them but are tamely accepting the distortions of the Wall Street brokers and bankers who have stolen the country right out from under our feet.
Pad,You couldn't have said it better: "Wall Street brokers and bankers who have stolen the country right out from under our feet." ^5
I woulld love to see the work history of these people, and also who they vote for. Me being a small buisness owner who averages over 55 hours a week to pay two mortages, one on the house and one on the buisness. To blame someone else for my woes is hilarious. If you can't make it in America where are you going to? PS never ever had government help and don't want it.
You work 55 hours a week? So why aren't you rich, commie?
you sir, Rick Cain, 4150 suck. i bet you are one of the sniveling lil' babies that wants everything for nothing. do like me, work your ass off for 45 years, pay for your own home, kid's braces, cars, insurance and then enjoy life thru your home being paid off and living within your means on social security and retirement. get off the public dole and get a job whether you love it or not! i worked many jobs that i didn't enjoy or really even like but they got me to where i am today. so put that in your pipe and smoke it!!!!!
Rick, how do you know he isn't? He didn't give you his net worth.
@ geo.
If you have two mortgages then you have help from the government. Do you honestly think that the bank would lend you that much money without a government garauntee??
Didn't think so.
Why don't you try living solvently?
No Sir! You said you run a business?? If you do, you get a bunch of government welfare!! Are you telling me that you do not deduct all of your business expenses??? Business is your job--no? Most of the people you are criticising cannot deduct the expenses associated with their jobs!! You only have a right to criticise a man after walking a mile in his shoes!! Peace, Love, Bless!!!
There are supposed means to let our government know how badly we are being hurt. Apparently, after years of hurt, it appears the government ignores these pleas for help, if there is help, it helps people having jobs, income and credit, not the desperate needy, and will only do what Big Business allows it to do. I do not like protests, however, if there is a protest, the news writers should be reporting and working on the issues and trying to get the protest issue resolved asap. Report back whether any dialog at all has been opened up between the protesters and BIG BUSINESS or the government. Reporting on what kind of food shows up, does absolutely nothing but detract from the real issue and story. A SIDE ISSUE, front-page-news, food story can be seen as an attempt to take sides and discredit the movement. I could care less about what they eat. Start doing some meaningful and constructive journalism to resolve the ISSUE, where more people are being seriously hurt each day, by no JOBS, no income, nor insurance, SPECULATOR PRICE MANIPULATION and the government/BIG BUSINESS doing next to nothing. Government help programs like insurance are jokes, costing double over the expired Cobra insurance you had, which unemployed or people without income cannot afford, or having other ABSURD & CRUEL requirements like: go without insurance 6 months before you can attempt to qualify.
Most of the people that have gathered to protest probably don't even know why they are there except for the food and having someone to hang out with. They are probably receiving welfare checks and all the state and federal benefits they can get and have nothing to fill their time with.
I worked and paid my own way through college didn't get any type of scholarship because I didn't have the time to kick a football around. If I was able to support myself then and my family since, then others should be able to do so.
I don't think the banks should charge me to withdraw money from my account. They get enough of my money as it is and should stop being so greedy. There are other ways to get what you want then by protesting.
tamben21
Are you having problems or do you just like to repeat yourself? It is probably the 1 percent of the group there that believe they have a reason for being there and the other 99 % that are there for the food.
Whatever!!! You can fake your own stories.