A Perfect Pairing: The Team at Callie Restaurant Helps Fund a Local School Pantry
The sky is cloudy over Burbank Elementary School, but the orange ribbon across the new Feeding San Diego school pantry brightens the scene. Chef Travis Swikard, owner of the restaurant Callie, cuts the ribbon to a round of applause. The generosity of Chef Travis and the team at Callie helped create a new resource for the community around Burbank Elementary. Children and their families can now receive nutritious food at a location convenient to them: their local school.
The Burbank Elementary School Pantry Ribbon Cutting
The Evolution of the Callie Partnership
Generosity is central to the Swikard family. Travis and his wife, Mia, have partnered with Feeding San Diego for several years. Throughout the year, they donate the proceeds from special menu items to Feeding San Diego. They have also hosted Pairings with a Purpose, one of Feeding San Diego’s annual fundraising events, for the past three years.
“I believe in the power of giving,” Chef Travis shared. “The most important thing that we can have as a citizen, as a human being, is if you have success, to share it with other people. Fortunately, we’ve been able to give back to the community through Feeding San Diego to start to make an impact.”
A Special Surprise
In February, the most recent Pairings event raised just over $500,000 in support of Feeding San Diego’s School Pantry Program.
“We are beyond grateful that Callie continues to host this fundraiser,” said Ali Colbran, senior director of development at Feeding San Diego. “The School Pantry Program is vital in communities around the county. We are so grateful for such an event that brings both awareness and funds to provide hunger relief for kids and families.”
This year, the Callie team received a surprise. They raised enough funds to open and sustain a new school pantry for one year. Burbank Elementary in Logan Heights, just a mile and a half from the restaurant, will be taken off the waitlist and sponsored by Callie.
Chef Travis and Mia receive the news that their efforts will take a school off the waitlist.
“I am moved that our efforts mean we are able to sponsor Burbank Elementary to ensure students and their families receive the food they need,” Chef Travis shared after the event. “We look forward to continuing to foster our partnership with Feeding San Diego to bring awareness to this important mission.”
Chefs and Hunger Relief: A Perfect Pairing
As a chef, Travis understands the importance of food.
“At the core level, food is nutrition,” he explained at the ribbon cutting. “It’s something that gives us fuel and power, and I think that that’s at the core level as a human being. It’s something that we need. I know what it takes to put food on the table for my family. I’ve been fortunate to never have food insecurities in my life. Still, you don’t actually feel the impact until you see what it means for somebody to actually put that nourishment in their mouth and know they can make it another day.”
“We’ve learned a lot about the impact of food and nutrition on children and school, and how they perform,” Mia added. “We’re just here to help. That’s all we can do. Even when you have nothing left, it’s moments like this that fuel us, fuel our team, and put a little more purpose into your day.”
From left to right: Ann Sim, Director of Operations for Callie and Fleurette, Chef Travis, his sons Taylor and Trevor, and Mia Swikard
An Ongoing Partnership
We’re proud to continue our partnership with Chef Travis, Mia, and the team at Callie. Their ongoing generosity deeply inspires us. For anyone interested in supporting hunger relief, Chef Travis offered this advice: “Start with 50 cents. Fifty cents equals one meal.”
Our next Pairings with a Purpose event will take place in October. The event will likely return to Callie in February. You can join our interest list to stay up-to-date about Pairings with a Purpose.
