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SLU CHS Faculty and Staff Prepare Meals for Those in Need

A group of faculty and staff members from Saint Louis University’s (SLU) Clinical Health Sciences (CHS) department recently volunteered to prepare meals for those in need in the St. Louis community through SLU’s Campus Kitchen program. With the assistance of Campus Kitchen Coordinator Melissa Apprill, five CHS volunteers worked to prepare 100 meals for individuals experiencing food insecurity in the area.

CHS members prepping meals with Campus Kitchen
CHS Student Services Associate Lizzie Sextro (left) and CHS Assistant Professor Crystal Botkin, Ph.D., MPH, CNMT, PET, FSNMMI-TS (right)

CHS Student Services Associate Lizzie Sextro, who helped organize the event for the department, explained who these meals were going to help.

“These meals typically go to people living in low-income apartment complexes nearby - these are people who are generally eligible for food stamps or who are experiencing some type of daily food insecurity,” Sextro said.

Campus Kitchen addresses issues of food justice by both reducing food waste and providing meals to those who are hungry. Using donated food that would otherwise be wasted, volunteers - mainly SLU students, faculty and staff - prepare, package and deliver about 400 meals a week. In addition to meals, Campus Kitchen provides its excess fresh produce to various non-profit organizations. The organization estimates that approximately 600 individuals are fed each week through the efforts of Campus Kitchen.

Sextro went on to explain how SLU’s Campus Kitchen was such a great option for the CHS department to work with in order to help the community.

“Our department feels strongly about giving back to the local community, and we wanted to do something in collaboration with our fellow SLU colleagues,” Sextro said. “We also knew that Campus Kitchen was mostly student-run, and they really look for support before the spring semester begins because students are generally not back from break yet.”

CHS members prepping meals at Campus Kitchen
CHS Assistant Professors Sarah Frye, MBA, CCRP, CNMT, PET, NCT, (left) and Genevieve DelRosario, MHS, PA-C (right)

The members of the CHS department are excited to work with Campus Kitchen, as well as other community partners, again in the future.

SLU’s Campus Kitchen is located in Reinert Hall on the university’s North Campus. To learn more about the program or to get involved, contact campuskitchen@slu.edu or call (314) 977-3881.

Saint Louis University is a Catholic, Jesuit institution that values academic excellence, life-changing research, compassionate health care, and a strong commitment to faith and service. Founded in 1818, the University fosters the intellectual and character development of nearly 13,000 students on two campuses in St. Louis and Madrid, Spain. Building on a legacy of more than 200 years, Saint Louis University continues to move forward with an unwavering commitment to a higher purpose, a greater good.