ROSEBURG, Ore., Jan. 5, 2023 – UCC opens its campus cafeteria after three years of closure to the Friendly Kitchen who is utilizing the space to provide approximately 1,200 meals per week to over 200 Roseburg residents with their Meals on Wheels program. In addition, they have expanded services to provide meals for UCC students on campus.
The Friendly Kitchen, staffed with volunteers consisting of 38 drivers and 20 kitchen helpers, moved their operation from the Methodist Church on Harvard to the Umpqua Community College cafeteria. The new friendly kitchen location provides the operation with much needed additional space.
Opened in 1972, The Friendly Kitchen serves and delivers food to seniors and homebound disabled adults and now has extended services to UCC students on campus. Monthly menus offer a wide variety of USDA-Certified, low-sodium meals approved by a professional nutritionist.
“We are thrilled at our new partnership with UCC. We now have the capacity to eventually serve additional meals to folks that aren’t currently being served by other related agencies or us,” said Casey Buller, volunteer coordinator at The Friendly Kitchen.
The partnership is also a creative solution to the lack of hot food service on the UCC campus. The UCC cafeteria was closed in 2019 due to budget concerns, and since that time students have only had access to food on campus through limited options at the campus store.
“This is a win-win for The Friendly Kitchen and for UCC. We get the opportunity to support a local non-profit and also solve an issue on campus for students. UCC is committed to finding innovative solutions to community and organizational problems,” said Rachel Pokrandt, UCC president.
The Friendly Kitchen needs additional volunteer drivers. Information is available on their website or by calling Casey Buller at (541) 440-7870.
About The Friendly Kitchen
The Friendly Kitchen opened its doors to seniors in the fall of 1972. In 1973 The Friendly Kitchen obtained non-profit status as a 501(c)(3) corporation. For over fifty years, they have helped seniors and people with disabilities curb hunger and isolation through good nutrition and fellowship.