World Central Kitchen is nearing 15,000 meals served across the Marianas following Super Typhoon Bavi’s July 6 landfall on Rota.
The nonprofit has partnered with six local restaurants on Rota, allowing teams to scale hot meal production as communities continue storm recovery.
World Central Kitchen distribution manager David Baler, who came to Rota with a response team last week, said operations remain active on Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam.
“We are still operating on Rota,” Baler said Monday. “We are now partnered with six restaurants across Rota.”
The organization began serving meals within hours of Bavi’s passage.
“Many began working with us during Sinlaku and mobilized quickly after Bavi passed,” Baler said.
World Central Kitchen continues feeding at shelters and through direct community distribution, working with village leaders, municipal governments, and local partners to assess daily needs. The group’s model relies on fast, local collaboration: meals are cooked by island restaurants and delivered by volunteers and community teams.
World Central Kitchen — founded by chef José Andrés — has become a familiar presence in the CNMI as storms intensify across the region.
