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Campus Kitchen at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has expanded its efforts to help feed the community and those in need.
“The Community Care Center in Granite City is providing a good community service and needs donations,” said Sarah Laux, assistant director of Community Engagement at SIUE’s Kimmel Student Involvement Center. “The Center serves lunch to the community, which includes more than 80 people. They also provide clothing and special assistance.
“However, the Center is not open on Fridays,” Laux continued. “Our efforts will provide an additional meal to clients by giving them a take home meal on Thursday afternoons.”
Because Campus Kitchen was looking to increase its community service efforts, Laux said that she and Allison Menchak, Community Engagement graduate assistant, agreed upon helping the Community Care Center. The two women had reconnected with representatives of the Center, who attended SIUE’s Volunteer Fair in the fall.
“They gave us the idea that we could help them, by providing some of our leftover food and other food donations,” Laux said.
Campus Kitchen donated its first take home meal to the Granite City non-profit agency the evening of Jan. 27. The meal consisted of green beans, spice apples and one of the following: lasagna, brats or hamburgers
“We prepared, packaged and delivered the food Wednesday afternoon, because we do not have enough space to store meals for more than 80 people,” Laux said.
The new project means additional work for Campus Kitchen, but also more people will be helped, said freshman Alexia Cadichon, who was the kitchen shift leader for the day.
“Some people don’t think about where or how they are going to get their next meal,” she added. “But for others, like some at the Community Care Center, they don’t know where their next meal is coming from. And that’s where we come in.”
Working with Campus Kitchens is also an opportunity to show goodwill, said Joshua Jones, one of eight volunteers of the day.
“By volunteering, we are creating positive relationships outside of campus,” said the freshman majoring in pre-pharmacy.
“It’s great how our network has grown,” said Samantha Rowe, a volunteer with Campus Kitchen since it first started.
“There are many needs that others have, even in the smaller communities,” Rowe commented, “and sometimes people don’t realize it. So, it’s always good to help out in your own area.”
Campus Kitchen also provides food to its first community partner, Sunshine Cultural Arts Center in East St. Louis. SIUE delivers snacks to approximately 30 elementary-age students on a weekly basis.
Campus Kitchen at SIUE began in September 2014. It partners with the Campus Kitchen Project national organization for the objective of cultivating leaders to develop local remedies in addressing the need of hunger and nutritional necessities of those in need.
SIUE receives donations from food leftover from SIUE Dining Services, produce from LaVista Community Supported Agriculture Farm in Godfrey and A Little Taste of Heaven Bakery in Edwardsville. The kitchen also gets funds for the supplies it needs from its annual Raise the Dough fundraiser in February.
Photos:
Freshman Joshua Jones pours some sugar into a pot of apples, stirred by freshman Alexia Cadichon.