Industry award for OBK
OUR Big Kitchen (OBK) has been inducted into the Restaurant & Catering Australia (R&CA) hall of fame, recognising the organisation’s contribution in the area of community service.
OUR Big Kitchen (OBK) has been inducted into the Restaurant & Catering Australia (R&CA) hall of fame, recognising the organisation’s contribution in the area of community service.
The achievement follows three consecutive years in which OBK took out the annual national Community Service Award from R&CA – the peak industry body representing restaurants, cafes and caterers across the country.
The award was presented at the Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering HOSTPLUS Awards for Excellence in Sydney in front of a crowd of approximately 800 people.
OBK was presented with the honour by the CEO of R&CA John Hart, who lauded the work of the Bondi-based charity.
OBK director Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin said he hopes the award will show the restaurant industry the importance of caring for those in need.
“In accepting this award, I told the industry that we should all be cognisant of our place in feeding and caring for those who go hungry and have no means to pay a bill at the end of the meal,” Rabbi Slavin said.
He accepted the award on behalf of the tens of thousands of people each year who OBK support with a meal, as well as the volunteers who make it possible.
“It was with the support of over 600 volunteers and over 12,000 volunteer hours last year that OBK sent out over 50,000 portions of food to the needy.
“I am immensely proud of the team at OBK and dedicate this great honour to their hard work and to the wonderful people we have the honour of serving,” Slavin said.
OBK general manager Greg Fisher was also on hand to accept the award, and noted that over recent years OBK has continued to grow the number of participants in its programs, which range from corporate team-building events to school interfaith and nutrition-based programs.
“The programs support the running costs of OBK so that people in need may receive quality meals at no cost, a message understood and greatly appreciated by the Catering Association,” Fisher said.
OBK intends to use this award to further spread its good work. “This award is not about giving OBK a pat on the back – it is about getting more and more people focused on the needs in our community and OBK’s role in supporting those needs,” Rabbi Slavin said.
PHOEBE ROTH
From left: Rebbetzin Laya Slavin, Rabbi Dovid Slavin, John Hart, Greg Fisher and Fisher’s partner Luke Power.
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