Idea Works Kitchen

Transforming Our Community Through Food

At Idea Works Kitchen, we believe food is more than fuel. It’s community, opportunity, and transformation.

This year, we’ve seen families learn how to cook affordable, healthy meals on a budget, farmers and food entrepreneurs grow their small businesses, and neighbors connect through classes and demonstrations. Every dollar you give helps us expand these opportunities and keep food justice at the center of our mission.

Our Impact

Idea Works Kitchen is more than a shared kitchen. We are the hub where food, health, and economic opportunity intersect.

• Healthy Cooking for All: Free and low-cost cooking classes teach families how to prepare nutritious meals on a budget.
• Food Justice: We provide access, education, and support to address food insecurity in our community.
• Community & Events: Our event space, pop-ups, and cooking demos bring people together around food and foster local connection.
• Food Entrepreneurs & Jobs: Shared kitchen access, mentorship, and community support help small businesses grow into thriving employers.

Every day we support local food entrepreneurs as they launch and grow, teach families skills to eat well, and host community gatherings that strengthen connection. 

Why Your Gift Matters

While our kitchen and event rentals generate revenue to sustain the facility, our nonprofit mission depends on community support.

Donations help us fill the gaps to run programs that make healthy food accessible, offer subsidized classes, and build equity in our local food system.

Your gift fuels:

• Equipment to help expand our kitchen capacity
• Supplies and ingredients for cooking classes that empower families.
• Outreach and education to strengthen food justice across our community.
• Programs that connect local farms, families, and entrepreneurs.

Supporting a food entrepreneur can create jobs, income, and local economic growth. Every caterer, baker, and farmer who starts at Idea Works is adding to our community’s economy and creates opportunity.

We’re filling a gap. There is no nearby, affordable shared commercial kitchen that also offers community programming.

Together, your gifts ensure:

• Food entrepreneurs have an affordable path to growth
• Funding equipment like a three-compartment sink that will allow us to serve more entrepreneurs and host more classes
• Families learn the skills to eat healthier on a budget
• Our region becomes stronger, healthier, and more connected

New This Year: Event Space

This year, we’ve expanded to offer a NEW event space perfect for intimate gatherings, cooking classes, and pop-up restaurants. Rentals generate revenue to sustain the kitchen, while also serving as a community hub where people can connect around food.

How You Can Help

• Give – Every dollar fuels community impact.
• Share – Tell your friends, family, and coworkers about Idea Works Kitchen.
• Fundraise – Members of our kitchen are creating their own fundraising pages to share their stories. Join them, or cheer them on!

Together, we can transform our community through food. Donate today and help us grow health, equity, and opportunity in Richland County.