The Campus Kitchen at the University of Kentucky (CKUK) is open to UK students struggling with hunger, as well as community neighbors in the greater Lexington area. There are no income requirements or eligibility restrictions. Anyone who needs a free, healthy meal is welcome.
About 100 students are served each week through the Farm-to-Fork program. All meals are made from locally sourced food and produce recovered from campus dining facilities, grocery stores, and farmers markets. Expect a welcoming, friendly space to enjoy a meal and connect with others.
CKUK prepares healthy, balanced meals using recovered food and produce from campus dining halls, local grocery stores, and farmers markets. Ingredients are local and seasonal, so what's on the menu changes throughout the year. Once a month, the Locally Chopped event features two dishes made from a highlighted local, seasonal ingredient, and visitors can take some of that ingredient home with them.
Every Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., free to-go lunches are available in Room 207 of the Funkhouser Building on the UK campus. This is the Farm-to-Fork program, and no sign-up or registration is needed. Just show up during the distribution window and pick up your meal.
You can support CKUK by donating to the Campus Kitchen Fund. Gifts help cover operating costs so the team can serve more meals and expand their reach in the community. For questions, email CampusKitchen@uky.edu.
Volunteers are always welcome. There are three types of shifts available: Recovery Shifts (picking up food), Cooking Shifts, and Delivery Shifts. New volunteers are encouraged to start with a Wednesday morning cooking shift to get introduced to the organization.
To sign up, visit the GivePulse website, review the calendar for open shifts, and register for the one you want.
If you'd like to become a member, you'll need to volunteer at least 10 hours per semester, attend at least one shift captain meeting per semester, and submit a reflection on your experience. You can request to join on BBNvolved. For more information, email CampusKitchen@uky.edu.
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