UHWWC Cooking Club Subgroup Builds Community Through Food
(UHWWC) has grown into a vibrant community of nearly 180 members, and our Cookbook Club also continues to expand. Monthly gatherings now fill quickly, with waitlists of around 40 women who are eager to attend. To celebrate this growth, the club partnered with local “vintage + modern” shop Timshel last month to co-host a community cookbook swap.
The event brought together members of the UHWWC Cookbook Club, Timshel’s audience, and neighbors from across University Heights. With 50 RSVPs and an active waitlist, the gathering reflected the strong interest in shared culinary culture. On the day of the event, approximately 30 guests attended to swap cookbooks, connect with one another, and celebrate the joy of analog food media. Topo Chico generously provided sparkling water, helping make the afternoon both welcoming and festive.
Alongside the swap, the club organized a cookbook raffle fundraiser and had the opportunity to share the UHWWC Cookbook Club’s story with food industry colleagues and well-known writers. Cookbook authors Samin Nosrat (Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat; Good Things), Hailee Catalano (By Heart), Aran Goyoaga (Cannelle et Vanille; Bakes Simple), Sarah Fennel (Sweet Tooth), Polina Chesnakova (Chesnok), and local author Alexa Soto (Plantas) generously donated cookbooks in support of the effort.
Together, our community raised nearly $600 for nonprofit and mutual aid organizations, including Immigrant Defenders Law Center, Border Angels, the ACLU, San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, Mutual Aid for Moms, Al Otro Lado, St. Paul Public Schools/Minnesota Aid, and Somos Tías.
Many thanks to Timshel for hosting, Topo Chico and the cookbook authors for donating, and all the neighbors who helped raise these funds! Nothing threatens oppressive regimes more than vibrant, connected communities rooted in love, solidarity, and shared care.
If you’re interested in joining UHWWC, you can follow us on Instagram at @universityheightswomenswalk, our website: www.UHWWC.org, or via email hello.uhww@gmail.com.