Chef Joey Morelli, a veteran of Chicago’s restaurant industry, has launched Joey’s Food Fight, a worldwide campaign to bring culinary life skills to children at orphanages around the world, helping them become self-sufficient adults who will provide for themselves and their communities.
The Irish say, “Laughter is brightest where food is best.”
True to the spirit of that saying, the Joey’s Food Fight campaign is spreading laughter and inspiration to children and staff members in orphanages everywhere by teaching them how to cook tasty, nutritious, affordable meals in an educational and entertaining manner.
Campaign leader and Chicago-based chef Joey Morelli wants kids to be able to provide for themselves in the here and now and for years into the future as they come of age to raise families of their own and serve their communities. The campaign aims to lay a basis for continuing food education that will be more self-sustaining and effective than simple donations to the orphanages.
You can check out the details of the campaign at https://www.joeysfoodfight.com/
Most recently, Joey’s Food Fight visited Central Ukraine, where Joey worked with the kitchen staff of a local orphanage to promote culinary practices incorporating nutritious whole foods sourced from local farms.
Part of the campaign also involves promoting the brand through a YouTube channel where you'll find "edutainment" cooking videos and where you can become part of a loyal, supportive fan base. You can find more information about the channel at https://www.youtube.com/@joeysfoodfight
Before his trip to Ukraine, Joey visited the Hope House Orphanage in Cambodia, where he built a kitchen and taught the staff and children how to prepare flavorful and budget-friendly meals. Morelli also plans to build a café near the orphanage to serve as a place of employment for the establishment’s wards when they reach adulthood.
Another long-term goal of Joey’s Food Fight is to visit a different orphanage in a different country every year, empowering young people all over the world with life skills to support themselves and their families for the rest of their lives.
Chef Joey Morelli has many years of experience in restaurant management and in culinary arts, and he has always been passionate about giving back to his community. As a StandUp for Kids Chicago board member, Morelli provides food to teen shelters three times a week. He also collaborates with Hope For The Silent Voices, a non-profit devoted to providing resources for severely disadvantaged women and children.
“I hope to leave a foundation for orphans all over the world to continue Joey’s Food Fight,” Morelli says. “Going to different countries, building beautiful kitchens for these kids, meeting them, making connections - that’s my legacy. Hopefully, as I get into my later years, the kids themselves will continue the legacy of Joey’s Food Fight.”
Join a great mission that helps kids all over the world grow into their best future selves!
You can learn more about Joey’s Food Fight at https://www.tiktok.com/@joeysfoodfight
