Joey's Food Fight: Owner of Max's Deli Joey Morelli Launches Nonprofit to Teach Children in Orphanages to Cook

 
Joey Morelli Launches Mission to Travel the World Teaching Children at Orphanages How to Set Up a Kitchen and Cook

**No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

As I sat down to talk to Joey Morelli, owner of Max's Deli in Highland Park, about his new nonprofit Joey's Food Fight, I observed his passion and care for others while he made sure customers were well taken care of before we began our conversation. I immediately knew that I would be learning about a remarkable person with a huge heart.

Joey's Food Fight is the culmination of  Joey's long-held dream to cook for children at orphanages around the world. Joey comes from a cooking family and he has fond memories of his grandmother cooking as well as cooking with his father. Today, Joey is an accomplished chef and restaurant owner. He attended the University of Illinois earning a BA in Restaurant Management. He also attended Kendall College earning an Associate's in Culinary Arts. As a board member of StandUp for Kids Chicago, he has been helping local homeless youth. He is now at a  point in his life where he is ready to make an additional impact in the world.

After meeting Eric Lyons, founder of Hope for the Silent Voices, at a 2021 fundraiser, Joey's mission really started to take shape. Lyons shares Morelli's devotion to helping those in very critical need throughout the world. So, he welcomed Morelli's idea of cooking with the children in orphanages starting with Hope for the Silent Voices Hope House in Cambodia.

Joey Morelli and Eric Lyons courtesy of Ripple Public Relations.

While visiting orphanages, Joey will not only teach children cooking but will help put together a working kitchen with essential elements such as working refrigeration. He will also help the kids develop pathways for obtaining the resources they need. He will leave the children with the skills to create healthy, nourishing meals. Joey has such a joy for cooking that I know he will leave a bit of that joy, too!

Joey already connects with the Hope House children via Zoom but I could tell that he is quite excited to visit with the kids and start sharing through food. The children of Hope House live near the Killing Fields and next to a garbage dump. These children are incredibly vulnerable and in need. Along with sharing his passion for cooking, Joey hopes to provide the children with a bit of a Dad figure that they have been lacking. A 14-year-old child currently manages the kitchen, so the skills Joey will share will be empowering and truly impactful. The children will enjoy elements of just being kids blended with what they are learning in the kitchen.

Throughout our conversation, I could feel the exuberance that Joey has for his new mission. While he has plans, overall he is letting life and the experience guide him. I am looking forward to following his adventures on his social media and seeing the impact he has on children throughout the world. I am also excited to see how the children grow and learn from Joey. I am also excited to see how Joey grows throughout the experience.

Last month, Joey held a fundraiser for his mission at Max's Deli and has raised over $20,000 to date. If you would like to contribute to Joey's Food Fight, head over to https://www.joeysfoodfight.com/. Joey has a goal of 10 missions in 10 years. While Joey has big goals, he also is focusing on living in the present and letting the universe guide him. Joey will embark on his current mission in July, so be sure to follow along!