Feed the hungry.
A Key West charity carries out that cornerstone of Christian compassion, quietly and without conceit, every Saturday.
For 30 years, Cooking with Love Key West — and its all-volunteer crew of shoppers, choppers, cooks, servers and drivers — has ensured that senior citizens and homebound residents receive a hot meal, hand-delivered to their home.
Founded in 1996 as a volunteer ministry of Metropolitan Community Church in Key West, Cooking with Love has delivered more than 250,000 meals to local residents facing hunger, illness, limited mobility or lost independence. The program is a vital source of support and sustenance for more than 200 residents, many of them seniors who often struggle to access healthy, consistent meals.
The program is powered by volunteers, donors and community partners who believe in caring for one another with dignity and compassion, said Cooking with Love founder Joan Higgs.
On Jan. 31, the program that has provided support accepted some for itself. Mount Sinai Medical Center joined Cooking with Love as a corporate sponsor, supporting its mission to provide freshly prepared meals to seniors and homebound residents throughout the Lower Keys.
The sponsorship will help sustain weekly meal preparation and delivery, support volunteers and ensure that Cooking with Love can continue to serve residents for another 30 years or more. Mount Sinai has served the Florida Keys’ in various medical capacities for years and operates three locations in the island chain.
“For 30 years, Cooking with Love has been a living expression of compassion in action,” said Joan Higgs, founder of Cooking with Love Key West. “We are deeply grateful to Mount Sinai Medical Center for taking the lead as our inaugural sponsor and for standing with us to ensure that no one in our community goes hungry or feels forgotten.”
Gino R. Santorio, president and CEO of Mount Sinai Medical Center, credited Cooking with Love for its community commitment, saying, “Access to nutritious food is foundational to health, especially for seniors and individuals managing chronic conditions. Cooking with Love has built an extraordinary community-based model in the Keys, and this sponsorship is one way we can support that work and extend care beyond our walls.”
Throughout 2026, Cooking with Love will conduct 30th anniversary-related outreach and fundraising efforts, including its “$30 for 30 Years” campaign, inviting community members to donate in honor of each year of service. Funds raised will directly support meal programs, volunteer coordination and operational needs as the organization looks ahead to its next chapter.
For more information, to donate, or volunteer, visit Metropolitan Community Church Key West at mcckeywest.com, email mcckeywest@gmail.com, call 305-294-8912 or stop by the church at 1215 Petronia St. Key West.
