Community Kitchen
An MCHPP program providing the agency with internal processing capacity and offering community members an affordable commercial kitchen workspace.
The mission of the Community Kitchen at MCHPP is to support an equitable, just, and sustainable food system by providing users with access to a certified commercial kitchen and high-quality equipment. We recognize that funding is a barrier to access for many and have implemented sliding-scale pricing to address this challenge. Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) led or serving groups have been prioritized in recognition of the systemic racism and barriers that have impacted Maine's BIPOC people and businesses for generations.
About the Space
The kitchen encompasses nearly 700 sq ft with an additional 700 sq ft of pantry, cooler, and freezer storage. Renters have access to the complete kitchen, a fully equipped dishwashing station, and a three bay sink. Four prep tables are adequately spaced throughout the kitchen, giving each renter or volunteer group space to efficiently work on individual processing.
Current kitchen equipment available includes convection ovens, baker’s oven, six burner range with oven, 40-gallon tilt skillet, commercial immersion blender, household food processor, household blender, large cutting boards, knives, stock pots, strainer pots, roasting pans, sheet pans, speed racks, rolling carts, as well as a variety of small wares.
MCHPP provides restrooms, compost, laundry, trash, and recycling services as well as gloves, hairnets, and aprons for volunteers and renters. All utilities are included in the rental fee.
The Kitchen’s hours are currently Monday-Saturday from 8am to 4pm. The space is closed on Sundays.
Questions? Please fill out the form to get in touch.
Volunteer Food Processing Shifts
The Community Kitchen welcomes MCHPP volunteers weekly into the space for processing projects made from excess salvaged and gleaned produce. These processed items are used in future Soup Kitchen meals, off-site distribution site meals, and distribution to our Food Pantry and partner organizations. To learn more or sign up for a processing shift, please visit our volunteer page.
