A program that got its start at Saint Louis University is taking its mission to “Teach. Reach. Feed. Lead.,” a step further with a program that teaches culinary skills to unemployed adults.
The Campus Kitchens Project, which is located in the basement of DeMattias Hall, originated from the concept of recycling leftover cafeteria food that formerly went to waste and saving it to give back to low-income families, seniors and youths. Volunteers meet during different shifts each day either to prepare the food for delivery or drive it to its destination. As the program grew, they began to receive food donations from places like local grocery stores, food banks and stores such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market, in addition to what is recycled from the cafeterias.
As support for the Campus Kitchens Project grows, so too have the volunteers’ ambition to expand their range of influence.
“While it is great that we’re able to feed people in need, we want to help strengthen the community as well,” said Matt Auxier, a Campus Kitchens intern.
New programs have been added since Campus Kitchens was first established six years ago. The organization began hosting an educational program during this last semester, called Culinary Job Training, where unemployed adults learn vital cooking skills that can be applied in the workplace. In some cases, these adults have moved on from their training to put their new skills to work in some of Chartwells’ restaurants here at SLU.
The training program, largely brought to life by Campus Kitchens Intern Angie Cooper and Coordinator Jenna Grime, is eight weeks old and covers a wide variety of topics. According to Grime, by the end of the eight weeks, the “students” will have taken lessons in everything from life skills, such as interviewing and resumes, to sanitation and proper food handling, to culinary arts and important cooking techniques. All the classes are “taught by SLU student volunteers and faculty/staff who volunteer their time and who have also helped create much of the curriculum,” said Grime.
Programs like the Culinary Job Training also “help ensure that we are not creating dependence on our services,” said Auxier. Campus Kitchens hopes that, upon completion of these programs, their former patrons will eventually be able to reach a point where they can make it on their own, too.
Due to the rapid growth of this project and others, Campus Kitchens welcomes as many volunteers as possible. Students interested in volunteering their time for this organization should contact Campus Kitchens at (314) 977-3881 or [email protected] to sign up for a volunteer time slot.
“It’s a mission of sustainability, because it started by taking old cafeteria food and turning that around and giving it to those in the community . but it has now expanded into so much more,” said Barbie Clabots, a member of the Campus Kitchens Leadership Team.
