What began as a social media post has grown into one of the region’s most anticipated grassroots community events. Everybody Gotta Eat, the annual free cookout founded by Manny (also known on social platforms as @manuel___way), continues its mission of building connections through food, care, and collective effort.
The event, now in its recurring form, provides a space where people from different backgrounds can gather for a shared meal, free of charge. Beyond its function as a cookout, the gathering has evolved into a symbol of solidarity—addressing food insecurity while promoting community-led support structures.
In an Instagram post reflecting on the growth of the initiative, Manny wrote, “It’s wild to think this all started with just an idea and the courage to move on it. Everybody Gotta Eat began as a simple post on social media and has grown into something real — from feeding folks to supporting the community and recognizing those doing the work. Every layer we’ve added came from the heart and a deep love for our people.”
The post follows recent coverage in Cambridge Day, which spotlighted the cookout’s grassroots origins and evolving impact. With each new edition, the event has expanded beyond food, often incorporating space to acknowledge local changemakers and uplift residents doing behind-the-scenes work in their neighborhoods.
At its core, Everybody Gotta Eat is structured around a simple idea: nourishment as a right, not a privilege. Through volunteerism, donated resources, and grassroots organization, the cookout continues to create a space where people feel seen, fed, and included—without expectation or pretense.
