The Campus Kitchen is now open and ready to serve people in need
Written by Christine Morgan Wednesday, 23 February 2011 23:02
Kent State student volunteers prepared their first dinner inside Ohio’s first Campus Kitchen Wednesday evening in Beall Hall.
The meals will be served Thursday for Portage County citizens in need.
The Campus Kitchens Project is a national organization that provides hot, healthy meals and groceries to the homeless and hungry. There are 30 Campus Kitchen locations at high schools and colleges across the nation. Kent State is the only college in Ohio chosen to participate in the program.
Jordan Kough, programs manager for The Campus Kitchens Project, said he hopes students take advantage of this leadership opportunity to create change within their community.
“We started this project with the intent that we could put students in a position where they got a chance to learn about their community, understand their community and learn the faces of poverty,” Kough said. “Our hope is that we can use food as a tool to empower students to learn what it’s like to be a leader and to get involved.”
Christie Anderson, of Kent Social Services, said she is grateful for the student initiative. She said their help decreases the cost of feeding those in need.
“We are so thrilled to be a part of this relationship with Campus Kitchens,” Anderson said. “Times are difficult for us as an agency. It is a time of increasing cost; donations are down, and sadly, the need is increasing.”
Anderson said the Campus Kitchen at Kent State will provide 20 percent of their meals during the school year.
Christine Sweeney, senior hospitality management major and kitchen operations manager, said working in the Campus Kitchen is a rewarding experience.
“The biggest benefit is creating life-long relationships with people,” Sweeney said. “It’s one of the most thrilling things you could ever do. When you go to Kent Social Services and see all those hungry people eating the food you prepared, it just warms your heart.”
Ed Hoegler, chief instructor for the Hospitality Management Program, said students will prepare dinner every Wednesday afternoon to be served Thursday evenings at Kent Social Services. He said students will prepare meals, under his supervision, based on the donations from that week.
“Sometimes we don’t know what’s going to come in, and that’s where the magic is going to be,” Hoegler said. “We get the food and turn it around into a specific meal, and that’s where the creativity of the students is going to be in play.”
Cameron Ahola, senior justice studies major, said it’s good to see students getting involved in a good cause.
“I think it’s excellent that students are helping because it shows that they are willing to do something that is good for the community,” Ahola said. “It seems like the students are really dedicated in what they do. The food tastes great.”
Clare Stacey, assistant professor of sociology, said two of the students in her social problems class are working with Campus Kitchens.
“There are a lot of really enthusiastic, intelligent students involved in this project,” Stacey said.
“I think it’s helping to coordinate all these different parties on campus who are interested in helping to stomp out poverty and hunger in the community.”
Contact Christine Morgan at cmorga20@kent.edu.
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