How Our Giving Kitchen combined online & in-person fundraising to triple donations and feed more families

Introduction

When food insecurity surged and societal divisions deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic, Our Giving Kitchen Pittsburgh (OGK) emerged as a source of unity. Founded in 2020 by Rabbi Chezky and Bassie Rosenfeld, the nonprofit organization brings together volunteers from diverse backgrounds around a shared purpose to prepare and deliver fresh, homemade meals to those in need.

From the beginning, OGK aspired to redefine what a food pantry can be, creating a unique community where differences disappear and a culture of giving takes center stage. Their modern commercial kitchen in the Jewish community of Squirrel Hill has become a rallying point of hope and togetherness, connecting regular volunteers and partner organizations to magnify reach and impact across the city.

The response has been extraordinary. Volunteer slots book up months in advance, and supporters rave about their experience in the communal kitchen. In 2025 alone, OGK delivered a record 25,000 meals to neighbors in need.

Individual donors play a key role in sustaining their growth, especially as their new location opened in June 2025. The organization needed a solution that would allow supporters to donate both online and in-person – plus make recurring gifts.

Making giving accessible to all

With volunteers ranging from toddlers to seniors, giving needed to be accessible for everyone. OGK wanted a fundraising platform that was straightforward for them as an organization, but even more importantly, for their donors. The interface had to allow supporters to give quickly and easily.

Rabbi Rosenfeld explained: Today, people’s attention spans are so short. When they’re inspired, you want to make it as easy and seamless as possible to give.

Capturing moments of generosity online and in-person

Our Giving Kitchen signed up for Donorbox in 2022 at a colleague’s recommendation. The team quickly personalized and published their online donation form, offering a monthly giving option that made it simple for donors to set up recurring plans using their credit card.

To complement online fundraising, Rabbi Rosenfeld added a Live Kiosk in 2025. With around 1,850 volunteers coming through every year, it was important to capture those moments of generosity. Conveniently placed next to the coffee station in their communal kitchen, the donation kiosk is always available for visitors and volunteers who want to give but don’t have cash on them.

Experiencing the magic and taking action

The fastest way to people’s hearts is inviting them to see what OGK does. It might start with discovering the organization on social media, finding the website, or hearing about them through friends or family, but the real magic comes from cooking together.

Every Wednesday and Sunday, 30 volunteers sign up and come over to prepare 100+ nutritious dishes from scratch with fresh ingredients, finding camaraderie and shared joy in giving back. These prepared kosher meals are then delivered to food banks, shelters, community centers, and places of worship across Greater Pittsburgh to get fresh food directly to families who need them most.

OGK also hosts special programs, including private events and family sessions. Bar and bat mitzvah sessions have also become popular. Rabbi Rosenfeld found that many boys and girls in the community were looking to take on a chesed – good deeds or acts of social action – as they prepared for their bar or bat mitzvah. Once a month, young people come together to discuss philanthropy and social responsibility, their role in the world as they approach adulthood, and what it means to give back. Families who volunteer have found these experiences deeply meaningful.

With so many people getting involved and inspired by the work, adding a giving kiosk to their facility was a natural fit. Consisting of an iPad and card reader, it allows supporters to make a cashless gift on the spot with a tap of their credit card or mobile wallet.

“We signed up for Live Kiosk because volunteers come and experience our work firsthand, and we want to catch them in that moment so they have the opportunity to give back right away,” Rabbi Rosenfeld explained. “People are here, loving what they’re doing, and asking how they can give back. So instead of telling them to put a check in the mail when they get home and lose that momentum, they have the opportunity to give back on the spot. Live Kiosk gives them that opportunity.”

He continued: It’s very important for organizations to have a visual reminder for volunteers that nonprofits rely on donations to keep the lights on. In the past, that might’ve been a box to put a dollar into, but in today’s world, it’s Live Kiosk that indicates that we’re open to donations.

In addition to Live Kiosk, a steady stream of donations comes in online. With Donorbox, Rabbi Rosenfeld was able to easily choose the suggested donation amounts on their donation form. Starting at $36 and increasing in increments of 18, the amounts reflect the Jewish tradition of chai, the Hebrew symbol for life. As their website explains, $36 provides ingredients for a family’s homemade dinner, while $180 equips a cooking station with professional-grade supplies, and so on.

In 2025, Our Giving Kitchen tripled its donation revenue on Donorbox compared to the year prior. The average donation is a generous $230. Rabbi Rosenfeld attributes this growth to simultaneously investing more in their programs, along with burgeoning recognition of their work within the local community.

“Partnering with Donorbox has led to more donations, especially recurring donations. It’s also given us the ability to see who our donors are, when they’re giving, and what triggers donations,” Rabbi Rosenfeld shared.

The Future

Our Giving Kitchen Pittsburgh continues to set its sights high. Last year, they served 5,000 additional meals and welcomed over 800 more volunteers. Together, these do-gooders are helping feed the nearly 160,000 people in Allegheny County who face food insecurity.

It's also become clear that diversified funding streams matter. "It's really important for nonprofits to diversify their revenue sources and have a healthy amount coming from individual donors, not just government funding or foundations," said Rabbi Rosenfeld. With Donorbox, they’re able to meet modern donors where they are, whether they prefer online or in-person, cashless giving.

Donorbox is proud to partner with Our Giving Kitchen Pittsburgh in their mission to unite neighbors and fight hunger through hands-on cooking experiences.

Donorbox features used

• Donation Form
• Recurring Giving
• Campaigns
• Suggested Donation Amounts
• Donorbox Live™ Kiosk