January 6, 2023 3:40 a.m.

Umpqua Community College and the Friendly Kitchen have announced a partnership.

UCC has opened 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 through their Meals on Wheels program. A release said in addition, they have expanded services to offer meals for UCC students on campus.

Friendly Kitchen Volunteer Coordinator Casey Buller said they have moved their operation from First United Methodist Church on West Harvard Avenue to the college. That includes 38 drivers and 20 kitchen helpers. Buller said the new location provides the non-profit’s operation with much needed additional space. Opened in 1972, the Friendly Kitchen serves and delivers food to seniors and homebound disabled adults. Buller said monthly menus offer a wide variety of federally-certified, low-sodium meals approved by a professional nutritionist.

Buller said, “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”.

The release said the partnership is also a creative solution to the lack of hot food service on the UCC campus. The college cafeteria was closed in 2019 due to budget concerns. Since that time students have only had access to food on campus through limited options at the campus store.

UCC President Dr. Rachel Pokrandt said, “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”. Pokrandt said, “UCC is committed to finding innovative solutions to community and organizational problems”.

The Friendly Kitchen needs additional volunteer drivers. Information is available at: https://www.friendlykitchen.org/ or by calling Buller at 440-7870.