OXNARD — This holiday season on Dec. 11, The Annex Food Hall is partnering with World Central Kitchen, an organization that provides meals in the wake of natural disasters, to give back to local first responders. The event begins at 10 a.m. with family friendly activities and continues throughout the day with a complimentary dinner for first responders to express community gratitude for all their hard work during recent tragedies.
First responders will receive complimentary dinner and drinks from the Annex Food Hall tenants. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Annex Food Hall tenants will be donating 10 percent of sales back to World Central Kitchen and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., kids will have the opportunity to create thank you cards for the first responders and will be displayed that evening.
“Our first responders selflessly give to the community when disaster strikes so the opportunity to host this event and show our appreciation and support for them is something very special,” said Tim Kilcoyne, Founder of Scratch Sandwich Counter. “Our hope is to show them in our own way how much they mean to Ventura County.”
A silent auction will also be held and will feature different items from the tenants of The Annex Food Hall. Prizes include a private chef dinner for four people from Chef Tim Kilcoyne of Scratch Sandwich Counter, a special “How to Make Spring Rolls” class and dinner from Love Pho Café, and more.
“We are very excited to host an event that gives back to our first responders,” said Jill Almonia, Marketing Manager of The Collection at RiverPark. “It’s a great way to gather our community together during the holidays and express our thanks to the men and women who work so hard to keep us safe.”
World Central Kitchen will also have a link on their website to accept donations for those unable to attend the event but still wish donate to World Central Kitchen.
In the last year, World Central Kitchen has provided more than 150,000 meals in Ventura County and has provided relief to community members affected by the Camp Fire in Northern California and the Woolsey Fire in Southern California. Founder Chef Jose Andres was also recently acknowledged and nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. For more information about World Central Kitchen, please visit https://www.worldcentralkitchen.org/
Annex Food Hall tenants participating in this benefit are: Love Your Bath & Body, Sueño Jewelry Studio, Bottle & Pint, Love Pho Café, PokeCeviche, Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters, Scratch Sandwich Counter, Seoul Sausage, Taqueria El Tapatio and The Blend Superfood Bar.
About The Annex Food Hall at The Collection at RiverPark: The Annex is a 16,000-square-foot Food Hall located within The Collection, Ventura County’s premier shopping, dining and entertainment destination. The first Food Hall in Ventura County, this gathering place celebrates the spirit of small business and local operators. A culinary focused, community-minded marketplace, The Annex shops and eateries feature an eclectic collection of purveyors blending dining experiences and unique flavors in a shared space with bar front eating and common area seating.
This one-of-a-kind destination offers a platform for proprietors who want to share their passion with others in a beautifully designed, artistic and inviting atmosphere which includes patio spaces for alfresco dining, special events, entertainment and more. Culinary offerings include celebrity chef favorite Scratch Sandwich Counter, famed local food truck Seoul Sausage, Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters, Bottle & Pint and cult classic Afters Ice Cream.
For more information and upcoming events visit www.thecollectionrp.com/the_annex and follow @AnnexFoodHall on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About the Collection (TheCollectionRP.com): The Collection at RiverPark is a 750,000 square foot, open-air specialty retail center located in the heart of West Ventura County. Inspired by the beauty of the California coast, The Collection reflects the unique atmosphere of the surrounding seaside communities. The Collection is built around a town grid of retail streets, each of which has its own personality-a carefully crafted assortment of established and contemporary designer shops, distinctive dining, and signature entertainment venues. Anchors include Target, Century RiverPark 16, REI, Whole Foods Market, H&M, 24-Hour SuperSport and The Container Store. Restaurants include Yard House, Larsen’s Grill, Gen Korean BBQ, Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, Maria’s Italian Kitchen and more. Follow us on the web, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram at TheCollectionRP.
About World Central Kitchen: José Andrés founded World Central Kitchen after the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti with the belief that food can be an agent of change. We have expanded globally and have developed into a group of chefs creating smart solutions to hunger and poverty. Today, World Central Kitchen uses the expertise of its Chef Network to empower people to be part of the solution, with a focus on health, education, jobs, and social enterprise. Since our inception, our work has affected communities in Brazil, Cambodia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Nicaragua, Zambia, and the United States. Join us as we use the power of food to empower communities and strengthen economies. WCK is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.