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OUR STORY
UGK Community First is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in March 2020 after The Underground Kitchen was forced to pause operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, we launched a mission to combat food insecurity and support displaced hospitality workers in Richmond.
Today, our impact continues through programs like Future Foodies, which provides over 40,000 fresh meals to children each month; From Scratch, which delivers holiday meals to 1,800 seniors and families; and Smart Soul Food, which offers weekly culinary education and food bundles to 50 families and seniors. Our newest initiative, Nourish, distributes curated food boxes—including health-focused Farm-acy boxes for individuals managing cancer and chronic illnesses—through trusted local partners. Together, these programs reflect our commitment to nourishing our community with dignity, education, and care.
1 in 10 Americans live in food insecure household
USDA 2021
OUR MISSION
UGK Community First (UGK-CF) supports food insecure children, families, and seniors through community-based feeding and educational programs; providing a consistent source of nutritious and healthy, chef-made meals to the food insecure who live in underserved communities as well as those who find themselves in food insecure situations due to environmental or social events.
UGK-CF is attentive to the diversity within our communities, taking into account the needs presented by different cultures, dietary restrictions, health concerns, environmental limitations, and food preferences.
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UGK-CF, its culinary team & staff are dedicated to serving all groups within the community and embrace diversity; promoting chefs and industry workers of color, women and LGBTQ+ who most often are underrepresented in the culinary world.
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100% of our funds are raised through the generosity of individual donors, granting institutions, and community partnerships
Your donations go directly to helping those in need and to making our community healthier.
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UGK-CF's range of programs address food insecurity in several different forums each of which provide:
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Chef-made, healthy, and dietarily appropriate supplemental meals for children, families, and seniors
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Access to in-person, live-virtual, and on-line food, nutrition, and cooking education
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Community partnerships that expand the base of knowledge about food insecurity