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.
Locally Chopped
Locally Chopped is a new initiative at CKUK happening once a month during Farm-to-Fork at Funkhouser 207 where we show you how to prepare two different dishes of a local, seasonal ingredient. And you get to take some of that ingredient home with you! Recipes are made with college students in mind. Follow us on Instagram @ckkentucky, and we hope to see you soon!
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 UK 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 UsIn the News
Fast Facts: 2014-Fall 2025
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! Thank you to all who support the work of the Campus Kitchen!
120,000
Pounds
Our volunteers have recovered food from hospitals, campus dining, local grocery stores, and local restaurants.
67,000
Meals
The Campus Kitchen has served meals to UK students as well as our community neighbors in Lexington.
12,000
Volunteers
UK students have stepped up in a big way to serve their community. These students come from more than 100 majors and all colleges on campus!
Become a Volunteer
Volunteer Opportunities
- Recovery Shift
- Cooking Shift
- Delivery Shift
Instructions
- Visit the GivePulse website.
- Review the calendar to see what shifts are available. Gray indicates the shift is full, light blue indicates nearly full, and dark blue means volunteers are still needed.
- Select the shift you would like to sign up for. You will be prompted to register by logging in or creating a new account.
- Follow the instructions provided for your chosen shift.
- For questions, contact Campus Kitchen.
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.