"A grassroots mutual-aid kitchen started by activists that pivoted into a large-scale feeding operation for protesters at a Midwestern university encampment, delivering more than 2,000 meals. What began as ad-hoc DoorDash orders evolved into cooked-to-order distributions and individually bagged meals that included hearty dishes like white bean chili and pad thai alongside more elaborate items — BLTs with truffle aioli, scallion pancakes, sweet cream custard cornbread, and even an experimental tamarind Pop-Tart — plus face masks, COVID tests and donated nonalcoholic beverages. The operation used spreadsheets to track distributions, prioritized dietary restrictions and allergy needs, and is now grappling with burnout, fundraising a small retreat to decompress and set healthier boundaries while deciding how to sustain the support." - Amy McCarthy