Annie's Kitchen Lives On

A humble barbershop chat in Edmonds, Washington, sparked a movement that’s now served over 100,000 meals since 2004. Founded by fiery matriarch Annie Fortnum—gone since 2022 at 91—Annie’s Community Kitchen thrives thanks to her “friendly bulldog” spirit and a devoted army of volunteers. Larry Ringstead, who rode his Harley with Annie in her 80s and has led the kitchen since day one, now trains new volunteers to keep her legacy alive. Every Wednesday, he leads a joyful “Happy Birthday” song for guests who might otherwise go unnoticed. From a single conversation to a community lifeline, Annie’s Kitchen proves that kindness, grit, and a little song can change lives—and keep them fed, celebrated, and connected. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/453c43f9d869e702