Campus Kitchen
Make life-changing contributions through student-powered hunger relief.
The Campus Kitchen at the University of Kentucky (CKUK) is a student-powered organization dedicated to reducing food waste and eliminating food insecurity. We recover food and produce from campus dining facilities, grocery stores and farmers markets to prepare healthy, balanced meals for those experiencing poverty, hunger, isolation and/or homelessness in the Lexington and UK community. CKUK also works to target the root causes of hunger and food waste on campus and in the community through education and programming.
Internship and research opportunities are available based on student interest. Contact us for more information.
Free Meals & Activities
Visit BBNvolved-CKUK to find a list of our activities and RSVP for events, like our free, locally sourced lunches and community dinners for students struggling with hunger. We provide to-go lunches each Wednesday on campus.
Visit BBNvolvedCampus Kitchen Fund
Give to The Campus Kitchen at the University of Kentucky to support students in eliminating food insecurity and food waste. Gifts to this fund help offset operational expenses of CKUK as we work to offer more meals and empower the community.
Support UsMake Our Recipes
Follow our CKUK blog and learn how to make the healthy, seasonal meals you enjoyed at Farm to Fork or one of our cooking events. Share comments to let our volunteers know what recipes you enjoyed and about your cooking experience.
Read the BlogIn the News
Fast Facts: 2014-2024
Over 10 years of operation, the Campus Kitchen has impacted thousands of lives. This work is only possible due to our student leaders and volunteers. We greatly appreciate the approximately 1,200 students who volunteer their time with CKUK each year.
100,000
Pounds
Our volunteers have recovered more than 100,000 pounds of food from local grocers and restaurants. More than 1/4 was fresh produce, and the recovery has saved 8 million gallons of water.
45,000
Meals
The Campus Kitchen has served more than 45,000 meals to students and communities in need, which has impacted more than 4,000 individuals in the Lexington area.
9,000
Volunteers
More than 9,000 UK students have stepped up in a big way to serve their community. These students come from more than 100 majors and have accumulated 15,000 volunteer hours.
Become a Volunteer
Dealing with the challenges of today requires problem-solvers who bring different perspectives and are willing to take risks. The Campus Kitchen at the University of Kentucky emerged out of a pursuit to inspire and support the community, and a desire for actions to speak louder than words. Established in 2000, we’re an organization driven by progressive ideas, bold actions and a strong foundation of support.
Volunteer Opportunities
Recovery Shift
Recover food from farms, farmers' markets, grocery stores, restaurants and dining facilities on campus. Volunteers collect items being donated and deliver them back to our kitchen.
Cooking Shift
Prepare healthy, homemade meals that will later be distributed to students or local communities in need. Volunteers combine fresh, recovered foods into well-balanced meals.
Delivery Shift
Deliver healthy, prepared meals to residents in Lexington and students on campus. Learn more about the variety of delivery shifts and dates volunteers are needed.
Sign Up to Volunteer
If you're a new volunteer, we recommend you try out a cooking shift to get introduced to the organization and its mission. Volunteers are always needed for the Wednesday morning cooking shifts ahead of Farm-to-Fork!
Volunteer with Us
Become a Member
Members are required to volunteer at least 10 hours per semester, attend at least one shift captain meeting per semester and submit a reflection about your volunteer experiences with CKUK.
Earn Course Credit
Working with CKUK can earn credit hours in several courses, including DHN 320 as part of the undergraduate certificate in Food Systems and Hunger Studies, which focuses on helping to end hunger.
Connect With Us
Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition
204 Funkhouser Building
Lexington, KY 40506
859-257-3800
dhn@uky.edu
Bylaws
Learn more about how Campus Kitchen at the University of Kentucky operates by reading our bylaws.
