Underground Kitchen Community First

UGK Community First is a 501(c)(3) organization established in March 2020 as a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic when The Underground Kitchen, a roving experiential dining company, was forced to shutter its business.

We immediately saw the deep need for nutritious, non-processed, homemade meals that runs through our community – even in the best of times – and felt the calling to do what we could to remedy that. In addition, UGK CF recognized the urgent need to support individuals in the rapidly declining restaurant industry while addressing food insecurity among Richmond’s vulnerable populations.

This dual mission inspired the launch of our programming, including Future Foodies, From Scratch, and Smart Soul Food. Together, these initiatives reflect our commitment to creating sustainable solutions for food insecurity while fostering economic growth and career opportunities in the culinary industry.