Wildlife and nature

Animal shelters and rescues

Theater and dance

Rivers, parks and trails

Hunger and food

Schools and learning

Housing and homelessness

Community health

Mental health

Mentoring and foster care

Legal help and rights

Jobs and money help

Atlanta

The Triangle

Everywhere

The Collective Workshop

Royal Animal Refuge

Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta

Georgia Advancing Communities Together

Atlanta Writers Club

Cobb Collaborative

Bosleys Place

Jewish Fertility Foundation

At Urban Recipe, we believe that fighting food security is a process. We take a few key ingredients: Care, Responsibility, Courage, Community, and combine them with a focus on dignity to produce our model: the Urban Recipe Food Co-op. In this model, co-op members take ownership of their food security, consistently showing up and participating in the food co-op. We provide a platform for leadership, food access, and community and our members bring the rest. The result: a food cooperative model that is a proven recipe for food security that reminds us that dignity tastes good.
Urban Recipe ​promotes food security and dignity through intentionally designed community-driven food cooperatives ​​prioritizing equitable food access, relationship building, and participation in decision-making.
We care about what we do to ensure we honor every neighbor’s dignity and meet the needs of our cooperative work. We approach our work with empathy and care to understand the diverse experiences of those we serve as well as each other.
We take responsibility for stewarding the food cooperative model and upholding high standards in all our actions. We believe we all have ownership in our quest to foster food security, equitable food access, and self-reliant communities.
We nurture a culture of courage that fuels innovation and drives us to adapt, refine, and discover new ways to combat food insecurity.

Pallet Prep every other Tuesday

Pack and Prep every Wednesday

Give

She Gave to Charity Her Whole Life. Then Everything Changed.

Urban Recipe Food Co-ops have structure for success

The Rising Price of Food in 2026 Urban Recipe

What 35 Years of Urban Recipe Looks Like in One Room

A Food Co-op: Something Regular in a Sea of Chaos

Volunteers: Champions for Non-profits and for Personal Growth

The Impact of the Recipe Club

The Impact of the Urban Recipe Food Co-op Model

Growth and Adaptation in the Fight for Food Security

How Co-op Remains a Place of Security and Peace Amidst Crisis

Read our 2025 Impact Report

Jeremy Lewis

Jamillah Gilmore

Manda Shankel

Carter Momsen-Hudson

Laura Bowser

Kathleen Loesel

Joshua “Lucky” Marks

Heidi Garcia-Nava

Juicey McKee

Breaking down boxes, setting up tables, unloading the truck, bagging produce... the list of ways to participate in co-op is long! That's the cool thing about Urban Recipe Food Co-ops - everyone gets a chance to participate in the way they choose - AND support their fellow co-op members together! If you or anyone you know is in need of food support, reach out today to join a food co-op.

She's spent her whole life taking care of people. And even though Michelle Worsham has retired from nursing, she hasn’t stopped helping people. She’s president of her resident association, and when Urban Recipe started a co-op at her senior community, her fellow co-op members elected her vice president. "Being vice president means if the president isn't there, it's me who steps up. You remind people of what to do and if someone doesn't show up, you move people around to make sure all the areas are covered and the bins are cleaned out." The food brought her to co-op — "the tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes, onions…the fruit and vegetables are really great" — but it’s the community experience that keeps her coming back. "I get a kick out of it. I laugh every time I go."

It's hard to imagine that we used to operate out of a single household sized refrigerator and a shelf in a church basement. Today, we distribute over 45,000lbs of food every month through our Food Co-ops and Mobile Pantry. Our staff is on the forklift and even volunteers use pallet jacks to move such large quantities of food! Truly, 35 years can make a world of difference. To help us continue to serve families in Atlanta, make a donation today at urbanrecipe.org/donate

Just a little reminder that the co-op members, partners, coordinators, staff, donors, and community at Urban Recipe are crushing it! We are so grateful to be able to live our mission every week, providing food through community at Urban Recipe. If you want a breakdown of these stats and other moments of impact, make sure you're subscribed to our email list!

Who do we serve? Everyone! Young and old, all abilities, languages, races, family types...our co-op members are from all backgrounds, but are united by their need for food and their desire to help themselves and their community. To learn more about our co-ops and members, make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter.

Mission, what does it mean to you? Share this video with a friend who may not know about Urban Recipe.

📢 Calling all communities! Do you have neighbors in need? We have 10 co-ops around Atlanta ready to help! If you know of anyone in need of food support, send them this post and encourage them to text or call us. Joining a co-op is free and available for anyone who needs support! 404-590-2186

October is here! Think cozy vibes, fall leaves, gathering together for potlucks and dinners. Our co-op members gather every two weeks (all year long) to share food with one another. It's different than a pantry: these families show up in community. With the incoming chill in the air, that warms our hearts. Learn more about our programs on our website.

What are your favorite fall veggies? We source groceries from awesome partners like @acfb @retaazaco @concretejungle @commonmkt and @secondhelpingsatl (among others)! Nutritious and delicious. What would you make with this batch of vegetables?

One more huge thank you to all of our sponsors for last month's Casks & Community Fundraising event! You are part of the recipe for food security!

What a night! Two weeks ago we celebrated in style - BBQ, bourbon tastings from @aswdistillery , wonderful support from @atlwomansclub and a room packed with new and old friends as we raised funds for our food security programs. You can still make a donation to the mission if you weren’t able to join! Visit urbanrecipe.org/donate

👋Hi from Columbus in the South Atlanta Co-op! It is co-op member Monday, and our members share why they come to Urban Recipe as members of a food co-op.

A core pillar of our free food co-op model is participation. No matter their age, our co-op member all get involved in the process. That’s part of community: showing up for one another, any way you know how. If you’re able to participate in our mission with your dollars, make a donation today!

“I thought Urban Recipe was a good fit for me because it was more than just a one-time pick up…I was going to be able to have food for the foreseeable future." - Michelle, Co-op Member Read her full testimony on our blog!

What are some ways you can think of to ensure food access for all? In Atlanta, you can contribute to Urban Recipe's Food Co-ops. We provide free food for families who may struggle to access quality food otherwise. Join the mission by making a donation today!

👋Hi from Sandra! It is co-op member Monday, and our members share why they come to Urban Recipe as members of a food co-op.

Let's play a game! Guess what we're describing 😉 : Awesome community. Bi-weekly meetings. Free food. Fresh produce. Volunteering with your neighbors. A place of respect, dignity and growth. Leave your guess in the comments 👇

All our members show up to co-op and participate however they choose to! Slinging pallets or breaking down boxes or anything in between, we are so grateful for our co-op members and all the ways they show up! Shout out some awesome co-op members in the comments below 👇

👋Hi from Patricia in Co-op 2! It is co-op member Monday, and our members share why they come to Urban Recipe as members of a food co-op.

Today and every day, we consider how we can support one another. We’ve got ideas! Get involved with your community - at Urban Recipe or your favorite non-profit or community organization!

Do you have a community in need? We have a model that can help. We don't just run food co-ops, we want to spread our unique food distribution model to other organizations as well! We believe the food co-op model and our emphasis on community, dignity and participation is the recipe for food security, so why not share it? If you'd like to learn more about staring your own co-op, shoot us a message!

👋Hi from Patricia and Co-op 2! It is co-op member Monday, and our members share why they come to Urban Recipe as members of a food co-op.

In addition to our Food Co-ops, we also have a Mobile Pantry. It began as a response to the pandemic in 2020 when co-ops couldn’t meet in person. We packed food in boxes and dedicated co-op members and volunteers delivered them. The pandemic ended, but the increased need for food remained, so we permanently adopted the Mobile Pantry program in 2022. Every year, more than 1,500 volunteers help us pack Mobile Pantry food boxes for partner community organizations to distribute across Atlanta. The free food boxes are available to anyone who needs them. Send us a message for info on upcoming distributions or check our website.

Co-op members take ownership of their food security, consistently showing up and participating in the food co-op. We provide a platform for leadership, food access, and community and our members bring the rest. The result: a food cooperative model that is a proven recipe for food security that reminds us that dignity tastes good. Join us in the mission by making a donation today!

It’s GRATITUDE WEEK!! We are so grateful to all of our co-op members whose participation makes this model possible! This week our team will be visiting every co-op and making sure each of our members feels the love. If you see an extra Urban Recipe T-shirt in the wild this week, make sure to say hi to one of our co-members (or supporters)! We are so grateful for this community! Sound off in the comments to let our co-op members know how awesome they are!

👋Hi from Mary! It is co-op member Monday, and our members share why they come to Urban Recipe as members of a food co-op.

Over the decades, Urban Recipe has responded to subsequent demand for food security by adding food co-ops and other programs as support and resources allowed. Today, our programs work in tandem, utilizing our particular “urban recipe” to create food security in a way that affirms dignity while at the same time providing a sense of support and community for our members. Learn more by subscribing to our newsletter.

👋Hi from Parish Grove! It is co-op member Monday, and our members share why they come to Urban Recipe as members of a food co-op.

35 Years ago, Urban Recipe co-ops were just starting. What is your first memory of Urban Recipe?

Produce check! What's in your kitchen right now?

Have you saved the date? Our fundraiser is coming up in just a month's time! Sept 17 - join us for an evening of ASW bourbon tastings, mouthwatering BBQ and live music to support Urban Recipe!

How does school already start this week?! As families prep to send the kids back to school, we wanted to say THANK YOU for supporting kids through Urban Recipe! This summer, we were able to distribute an extra 38,000 pounds of food to families with kids! And what's even more amazing, that food went to 214 families, meaning families got: - Recurring support - Consistency in their summertimes - Extra highly nutritious foods (like tuna, chicken, veggies, rice) for their families We are so proud of our co-op model, along with our partnership with @singleparent411 to get extra food out to their families through Mobile Pantry.

Thank you so much for your support of our mission through summer fundraising campaigns! For all who participated, you truly exemplified COURAGE by inviting your community into our mission and asking for financial support. Your actions were fruitful! The funds raised this summer will continue to support Food Co-ops here in Atlanta, and ultimately, food access for more families.

Tickets are now on sale for our fundraising event! Join Urban Recipe for an evening of premium bourbon, mouthwatering barbecue, live bluegrass music, and great company – all in support of our mission to feed people while building community through Food Co-ops. Co-hosted by @atlwomansclub , Casks & Community celebrates the power of gathering around a shared table while helping ensure more families have access to both food and community. Guests will enjoy an unforgettable evening featuring spirits from @aswdistillery , a bourbon-inspired barbecue menu, fun activities, and opportunities to support Urban Recipe’s work across Metro Atlanta. Get tickets and learn more on our website!

Just a few days left to participate in our summer peer fundraising campaign! 13 individuals (solo and in teams) have rallied their communities this summer to raise $20,506.36 for Urban Recipe! Their cumulative goal is $22,000 - can you help them hit the final milestone? Share this post with a friend that you think should donate 😊

Our Cooperative Pathway Program is in session! It's been a few months since we've had our last co-op training, and we are thrilled to be training new coordinators today to run Urban Recipe Certified Food Co-ops. If you ever want to know more about starting a co-op, send us a DM and we'll get you connected with our Program Director!

Are you subscribed to our mailing list? We're sending out some summer updates for you this week straight to your inbox. Read up on co-op members, summer programming, and what's going on over here at Urban Recipe. If you're already subscribed, make sure to invite a friend to read along - tag them below!

Pamela 👏 shows 👏 up! She comes to co-op every week, not because she always feels like it, but because she has herself, her family and her neighbors to support. Her care for her community is evident. We are proud to be made up of so many awesome members.

Feeling your grocery bills straining your wallet? Us too. This month’s blog takes a look at how our co-op model, among other models practiced around the city, eases the financial burden of feeding your family. Pantries, food banks, and food co-ops are all doing their part in serving people who need a little extra support. The big difference with co-ops? The opportunity for community.

Happy Saturday! What are you up to this weekend? Seems like a great day for a good meal with people you love.

Almost 5 years of serving @pbs_atlanta ! With a 2021 co-op relaunch, Slater Elementary co-op has served families of Pace Middle, Slater Elementary and Carver High School for just shy of 5 years. Even if you’ve never been to Slater, what’s a favorite school memory you have from your own life?

Looking back at June, we are wow'd especially by the generosity of our donors, partners and their friends who supported Urban Recipe! Through the end of this month, our Board of Directors and some of our incredible supporters are raising funds to support Urban Recipe programs (like our 23+ monthly co-op meetings and our very active Mobile Pantry). There's still time to support the summer fundraiser! You can head over to our website to donate!

A few weeks ago, we had a great example of members making decisions together! It was the morning of one of our school co-ops. A woman approached the co-op, asking about receiving free food. The co-op coordinator got more information and realized this woman wasn’t associated with the school, which made her ineligible to join that particular co-op. While she was given information on how to join another co-op, she was left without food in the moment, when she needed it. The co-op members had a choice. They came together in discussion and together decided to share their food with this stranger. These co-op members, who are part of co-op because they face food insecurity, decided to give, and share what they had with their neighbor in need. What a beautiful example of human spirit. This is why we run food co-ops.

Did you know? Our co-ops, even our school co-ops, operate all year long! The summer is a great time for teachers, parents, and staff to continue to meet up and receive free food and continue relationships, even when school is out.

Say it again: 👏 FOOD IS EXPENSIVE!👏 You know it, I know it, and we are here to help! Urban Recipe is committed to fighting food insecurity through our free Food Co-ops. Thanks to incredible partners like the @acfb and generous donors, we are able to provide free food to members of our community. If you are in a position to help us provide free food to our neighbors, visit our website (linked in bio) to make a donation today.

Are you braving the heat? Two of our co-ops meet outside and two meet in our un-airconditioned warehouse. The members are hot and sweaty, but showing up to care for their families. Now THAT is responsibility! We are so proud of them for taking ownership of their own food security!

It's July, which means our fundraising is in full swing! Friends of Urban Recipe are gathering their friends together to raise funds to support our recipe for food security. There's still time to join! You could become a fundraiser yourself, or donate to one of our current competitor's campaigns! Head over to the link in our bio to join (or DM us with questions!)

Our operations look a little different this summer with our freezer down for the count with much-needed repairs. We're doing all we can to make sure we are still taking care of our families. But while we do, we are still dreaming of frozen chicken and veggies when we have this thing running again in August. What are your favorite frozen foods?

Happy anniversary to us! 35 years of free Food Co-ops in the Atlanta area! We are gearing up for a summer of impact, and want to invite YOU to be part of it! We are rallying teams to help raise funds for us this summer. Would you help lead? Set a goal, gather your team, and spend July raising funds to fight hunger here in Atlanta. Reach out to Manda at mandashankel@urbanrecipe.org or send us a DM for more info!

Are you subscribed to our mailing list? We're sending out some summer updates for you tomorrow straight to your inbox. Read up on co-op members, summer programming, and what's going on over here at Urban Recipe. If you're already subscribed, make sure to invite a friend to read along! Link in bio!

What 3 words would you use to describe Urban Recipe? Monet’s answer: Community. Support. Loving. Join in our mission by staying up to date on our happenings, our newsletter is linked in our bio!

Just $5 helps us provide 33 meals to folks in the Atlanta area. That's over a week of meals for only $5! We aim to provide about half the necessary monthly groceries to our co-op members. Can you help make that goal a reality? Donate today at the link in our bio.

This year we are celebrating 35 years of Food Co-ops for families in the Atlanta area! As part of our celebration, some of our close friends and supporters are raising funds for Urban Recipe so we can continue our mission to end food insecurity. We invite you to join us over these next 35 days as we raise funds and awareness for Urban Recipe! We have the recipe to food security, you can help us make it happen.

May - a time of transition with school graduations, first jobs, weddings, babies, seasons changing and settling into new routines. But over here at Urban Recipe, we stayed consistent. Food going out every day to families in the Atlanta area through our free Food Co-ops. Look at these numbers! Thanks for helping us make a real impact here in our city.

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Urban Recipe staff