Yesterday, our Executive Chef Chris Cunningham stepped out of The Sink kitchen and into a very different one.
As part of All Roads’ new Chefs at the Shelter program, Chris prepared a full meal for residents using only the donated ingredients available.
He walked into the kitchen, saw what he had to work with, and got to work. “We’re not here to flex – we’re here to feed people and help our community,” said Chris to Lindsey Sharp, Assistant Director of Development at All Roads.
Cooking With What’s There
Chris runs a tight ship at The Sink, creating menus, sourcing ingredients, and executing with consistency every day. The process at All Roads looks much different.
About 90% of the food comes from donations, which means the ingredients change constantly. Chefs don’t know what they’ll be working with day to day.
Chris worked alongside Chef Shannon Meihaus and her assistant, Lillian. Together, they keep the All Roads kitchen running every day using whatever ingredients are available. This isn’t a one-time challenge for them. It’s how they feed up to 180 people three times a day.
"The chefs have to do it the way that we do it, and that is with whatever we have in stock," Meihaus said to 9 News. "Our donations change every single day, every single week, every single month."
Chris leaned into it. He created a baked pasta Bolognese, roasted vegetables, garlic bread, a fresh salad with a blueberry-lemon vinaigrette, and cakes for dessert.
He turned a mix of donated ingredients into a delicious meal for residents.
Why It Matters
Meals like this are part of how the shelter runs every day.
The kitchen team and volunteers consistently feed up to 180 people with donated food. That kind of operation takes flexibility and a lot of effort behind the scenes.
But it doesn’t stop with feeding people. All Roads assists with housing, employment, stability, and more. Meals are one piece of a much larger system that supports people as they get back on their feet.
Programs like Chefs at the Shelter help bring more visibility to that work and gives chef’s a chance to be a part of something creative and meaningful.
A Natural Fit for Us
The Sink has always been an anchor in the Boulder community. For more than 100 years, we have brought people together over food and connection, creating a place where locals and visitors feel at home.
All Roads carries that same purpose forward in a deeper way. This was not about volunteering to help out for a day. It’s about supporting the people who live and work here and showing up for something that already matters.
How You Can Support All Roads
If you want to get involved, there are a few ways to help:
Donate to support meals and shelter services.
Sponsor a future Chefs at the Shelter night.
Help spread the word about All Roads.
Sign up to be one of the next ‘Chefs at the Shelter’ or volunteer to help in the kitchen.
All Roads relies on community support to keep its kitchen running and programs moving forward.
https://allroadsboco.org/ways-to-give/
Proud of This One
We’re proud of Chef Chris for stepping up and representing The Sink in a way that reflects how much we value our community.
