Chef Javier Ramirez at Tacony Academy Charter High School serves hundreds of students every day and is helping tackle food insecurity in the process, writes Wakisha Bailey for CBS News Philadelphia.

Ramirez makes sure that everything is made fresh. He even mixes in his own recipes within some of the meals.

“As soon as they finish their lunch, they tell me if it’s good or it’s bad,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez has more than two decades of experience in the culinary industry. While he previously worked in a fancy hotel kitchen, he decided to transition to working in a high school cafeteria.

His impact at the Wissinoming high school is definitely felt.

Senior Daja Haines credits Ramirez’s lunches for helping fuel her as she pursues her school studies.

In addition to his work at the school, Ramirez is also part of Red Rabbit, a national organization that provides restaurant-level-quality meals to schools throughout the country. A majority of these schools are in inner cities.

Philadelphia has six schools partnering with the organization.

For Ramirez, being able to make a positive impact in the city where food insecurity is so prevalent is his biggest reward.

Read more about Javier Ramirez and how he is tackling food insecurity for Philadelphia students at CBS News Philadelphia.

_____