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Chefs lead a food giveaway to help West Philly, and beyond

The first is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday at 52nd Street and Girard Avenue.

Basimah McNeal (left) picks up a food bag from chef Elijah Milligan, with help from Stephanie Wills and Kurt Evans, during a food giveaway at 52nd and Girard on June 5.
Basimah McNeal (left) picks up a food bag from chef Elijah Milligan, with help from Stephanie Wills and Kurt Evans, during a food giveaway at 52nd and Girard on June 5.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer

Through the pop-up dinner series Cooks for the Culture, African American chefs showcase their work in the Philadelphia area.

Point people Elijah Milligan, with friends Stephanie Willis, Aziza Young, Kurt Evans, and Omar Tate, have a more immediate project. Rather than 10-course dinners, they are backing a series of giveaways of food, pantry staples, dry goods, and toiletries, plus lunches.

The first will start at 1 p.m. Friday, June 5 at 52nd Street and Girard Avenue, not far from heated protests earlier this week.

More are planned. The whole campaign was conceived about 48 hours ago, said Milligan, a private chef whose resume includes Le Bec-Fin, Stateside, and South.

Between the coronavirus and the protests, “there’s essentially a war going on outside,” said Milligan. “We’re chefs. We want to give back to the community. We wanted to do something. We all know people who can’t find groceries or medicine in their neighborhoods. The pharmacy and grocery stores are closed."

» READ MORE: Omar Tate's Honeysuckle pop-ups are revolution in a takeout box

“We don’t condone violence,” said Milligan. "We also understand the anger, too.”

About 15 restaurants have volunteered to be drop-off points, he said: a.kitchen, Fork, High Street on Market, Hardena, Barbacoa, June BYOB, Crybaby Pasta, Jezebel, Helm’s two location, River Twice, Mike’s BBQ, Local 44, and Milligan’s family’s restaurant, Just to Serve You.

They’re looking for cases of water, juice, healthful snacks, individually wrapped toilet paper and paper towels, toothpaste and toothbrushes, feminine-hygiene products, diapers, formula, masks, gloves, and sanitizer; monetary donations may be sent to @eatpreplove on Venmo or $chefanienicole on CashApp.

Milligan is impressed with the generosity. “Someone just called me to donate 250,000 eggs," he said Wednesday night. "That’s a lot of eggs. Now what am I going to do with all that? We’ll figure it out.”