Kevin Reese is a passionate local artist and a dedicated member of our volunteer community. Since joining Food & Friends, Kevin has become a staple of our kitchen team. During Thanksgiving Week of 2024, Kevin went above and beyond, working for seven days straight to help prepare 4,500 holiday feasts for neighbors. We sat down with Kevin to learn more about his story, his commitment to community, and what drives him in the kitchen.
How did you get your start volunteering at Food & Friends?
I came in June of 2023. I started in the loading dock and was coming there every Wednesday. I enjoy cooking, that’s what I have always loved to do, so I started a little bit in the kitchen. I also do Medically Tailored Groceries when necessary, and I pick up shifts if they’re really in need. I ended up doing 380 hours this year.
I first came here when my daughter was 12, with my church that came for a day. She’s now 30. When my life slowed down a little bit, I was trying to retire. I thought, “Gosh, why don’t I go back to Food & Friends?” And it was like, wow, this is a really good fit for me!
What’s it been like working in the Food & Friends kitchen?
I do all the cooking in my house; we entertain a lot. And, I think my chopping skills and my focus have improved. Of course, I’m not working on this scale at home. It’s just the intensity of working in a kitchen.
So, then you get back in your home kitchen, and it’s easy because you’ve got that much more, you get that much more sort of daily experience, using that muscle, so to speak. It’s a great place to work and I tell people this all the time, this is a very well-run ship.
Food & Friends is a series of systems that collaborate beautifully to generate 5,000 meals a day. I mean, that’s insane! And so that’s obviously incredible leadership all around.
You’ve got not only an incredibly efficient, well-run organization, but you’ve got really nice people that you’re working with, leaders like Trevor and Rasheed and Lena and Tomasa and Adan. It’s not surprising that you win the Best Place to Volunteer!
What did you do before retiring?
I was a sculptor. I worked with communities to create permanent pieces of kinetic public art. I worked with schools, community centers, and corporations. D.C. Bilingual [on Riggs Road] has an installation of mine in the lobby. I worked with the kids to create that. And of all the wacky things, when I came to DC in 1989, I was an actor. I worked at Arena Stage, Ford’s Theater, and the Kennedy Center among others.
Why is Food & Friends mission meaningful to you?
The motto of this organization is “Food is Medicine” and that goes right to the heart of their mission. I believe that food is also connection, community, collaboration, and bottom line, food is love. That’s what I’ve learned, that’s what I’ve tried to live by. And when you see the amount of love in this organization, and you see the people who use it as a lifeline, my goodness, to be able to live with their disability or ailment or whatever it is, and how we help them.
What would you say to people who want to get involved?
Every time you put a meal together, you know that’s going to somebody and it’s really important to them. And so, to volunteer to make that happen, that’s a wonderful reason.
There are all kinds of ways to participate. This is such a big team if you want to be part of a well-run ship, but also just a really interesting team of people, both volunteers and leaders.
What this organization does is so valuable. Food & Friends has made themselves over the years virtually indispensable to the people who depend on them. They have helped so many people live with their diagnosis and get better.
I feel very much a part of the organization. If you want to volunteer somewhere and feel valuable, Food & Friends is a great place to go.
