Nicholas Alexander has “grown up on himself,” learning to cook while navigating the foster care system. As a UC Berkeley student, Alexander would host dinner parties at his residence. Now, he cooks meals for the residents of People’s Park.
In March, Alexander said he opened a physical kitchen in People’s Park and has been serving meals, snacks, coffee and more to the park’s unhoused community since. The structure, built by Alexander himself, was painted during a community event and contains a storage area and main kitchen
“There is an increased need for food security in Berkeley,” said campus senior Aidan Hill, former vice chair of the Berkeley Homeless Commission, in an email. “People’s Park used to have numerous religious and community organizations who would serve food in the Park before quarantine occurrs. Now its more sporadic.”