NEWS RELEASE

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Rotary Helps Underground Kitchen Feed Community During Pandemic

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May 20, 2020
The Rotary Club of River City has secured a $5,000 grant to support the Underground Kitchen Community First Project's efforts in creating, donating, and delivering meals to our community during the Covid-19 pandemic. The grant was obtained through the Rotary District Grant process from Rotary District 7600, which encompasses clubs across Central and Southeastern Virginia.

 

The meals provided by UGK's Community First Project, a Richmond, Va-based food relief nonprofit, will consist of soup, bread, and tea, and sometimes, family meals. Their growing list of families and groups they are serving include:  

• Those who cannot leave their homes due to quarantine, other health or logistics restrictions

• Out-of-work families

• Family members and/or patients who are in temporary residence at the Ronald McDonald House and The Doorways while patients undergo treatment in the Richmond area

• Our hardworking front-line first responders, emergency workers and other healthcare workers that don’t have time after their long shifts to shop or make a healthy meal

 

With our monetary donation, in combination with food donations from farms and other sources, they can make 1,000 quarts of soup currently serving to more than 250 individuals and families, enough for several servings that week. In the two months since the UGK Community First Project first launched, the nonprofit has provided more than 10,000 nourishing meals to people throughout metro Richmond. The remaining monetary donation would go towards purchasing soup containers and bags that can be used for deliveries in the weeks ahead. 

 

In addition to the monetary donation, the members of the Rotary Club of River City will be making at least 400 cards with messages of hope to be included with the meal deliveries. The club members will also be helping out with deliveries to groups and shuttling large containers of soup to packaging facilities.  “I am so proud that our club can be a part of what the Underground Kitchen is doing, providing comforting, hot meals.  Our hearts are full to be able to contribute to the organization’s work through the Rotary’s grant program and our local volunteer efforts.” touts incoming president and foundation chair, Betsy Lacy. 

 

Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.  River City Rotary is doing our part here in Richmond. Check us out at rivercityrotary.org and learn how we're making a difference. Reach out to us info@rivercityrotary.org or find us on Facebook for our upcoming meetings and events.
 

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