Our Story

Presently, the Pepper Cook Seva Kitchen feeds over 30,000 children a month. And over the last 5 years, we have distributed more than 6,50,000 meals to slums across Mumbai.

We are now raising funds for a commercial community kitchen to feed 3,000 children, six days a week and collaborating with schools to provide mid-day meals to children. 

All contributions to the Pepper Cook Seva Kitchen are exempt from tax under Section 80G.  Come help us eradicate hunger from Mumbai! Join us in nourishing our community.

How does Seva Kitchen work?

We are registered as a not-for-profit company and all contributions to our organization are registered. Our cooking sessions, ingredients and equipment are sourced through donations. The Kitchen welcomes all contributions, large and small, and the operation costs of every session are typically funded by one or two main sponsors every week. The menu, prepared in advance, is inspired by the vegetables, lentils and other ingredients that we have received from well-wishers. We only use vegetables and spices of the highest quality to ensure that our meals are not only filling but also hearty and delicious. 

We are always looking for creative ways to reuse food that would otherwise go waste, sourcing pre-expiry ingredients from food companies and community shopkeepers that we can cook with. 

We cook five days a week (barring national holidays or extenuating circumstances), and our volunteers register a week in advance. If you would like to cook with us, we recommend that you sign up early – our sessions fill up fast! If you need to cancel after signing up, please let us know as much in advance as possible so that we can find a replacement for you. Late cancellations can disrupt our ability to prepare enough meals on time.  

What does a session look like?

Volunteers arrive at 9:30 AM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays and begin by preparing the ingredients. The meals are then cooked and packed in 25 kg steel containers, and the kitchen cleaned, in time for the porters to pick up the food at 12 noon for distribution. The entire process is carefully managed to ensure that all the food that has been cooked is distributed where it is needed. 

Who can come?

Too many cooks do not spoil this broth! Our volunteers are as young as 16 and as old as 93! Anyone with a desire to make a difference and to join a community of like-minded cooks is welcome. Prior cooking experience is not a must. However, you must know how to conduct yourself in an indoor kitchen, around cooking equipment and sharp objects., We encourage our volunteers to experience every aspect of Seva Kitchen – from preparing ingredients and cooking meals to packing, cleaning up and fundraising. 

I’m sold! How do I sign up for your next cook-in session?

If you would like to volunteer with us, donate supplies or fund one of our sessions, please call Vandana Walia at +91-9167779525 or direct message us @peppercooksevakitchen on Instagram. Or fill up our form below.

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