Food has a wonderful way of bringing people together and breaking down barriers. That's the idea that helped guide founding members Maisa Abudayha, Ross Carper and Dan Todd to start Feast World Kitchen – a nonprofit restaurant that has been helping immigrants and refugees in the Spokane community feel welcome and achieve their fullest potential. 

It's a pursuit that strives to feed both heart and belly. The restaurant offers a rotating selection of food prepared by chefs immigrant chefs and refugees from around the world, while also helping them take steps towards removing the barriers to entry to open up their own restaurants, food trucks, catering firms and other businesses.

Carper describes the restaurant as "small business and job incubator."  Whatever money Feast World Kitchen makes at the end of the day, after expenses, goes to the chefs. This provides extra income and work experience, while delivering delicious and diverse food to the Spokane Community.

Mark Finney, the director of World Relief Spokane said that people in Spokane might not always be aware of the opportunities they have to connect to the wider world through the neighbors they have here. "Food is an important way to do that," he said. "Food is always one of the most deeply held values in any culture, and to be able to share culture in the way we share food is huge. I'm super excited for this opportunity because of the way it's going to allow folks to get to know their neighbors by getting to enjoy the food."

Melissa Blaine has been a supporter of both World Relief and Feast World Kitchen here in Spokane. Having adopted three daughters from Ethiopia and have cared for two foster youth from Guatemala, she understands the importance of providing a safe home and support for people transitioning to new cultures.

"World Relief plays an important role in providing incoming refugees support as they transition into a new culture having to adapt to new customs, new language, new food, new climates, and an entirely different way of life," she said. "People in extreme circumstances do not necessarily want to leave their home country and the culture that they are born into, but tragedy gives them no other choice."

As a nonprofit, Feast World Kitchen is always looking for volunteers and are accepting donations to help with the many needs of associated with keeping a food operation up and running. Aside from donations, sharing their message and getting people excited about the kitchen can go a long way.

Feast World Kitchen is open for takeout and dine-in, Wednesday through Sunday, while also offering catering to anyone interested.

For more information about Feast World Kitchen, visit feastworldkitchen.org, call 509-608-1313 or email admin@feastworldkitchen.org.

Join us in celebrating our Doers of Good by getting involved in one of the programs we will spotlight over the next several months.