Bellarmine Students Take "Waste Not Want Not" to Heart

     As hunger never takes a holiday, our kitchen staff remains busy preparing two thousand or more meals daily.  Most of the food is prepared by volunteers and the resident clients in our care, but from where does all this food come?  One such source is donated food and among our food donors is Bellarmine University.  Ranked by U.S. News and World Report as among the finest regional universities, Bellarmine University attracts some of the best and brightest students from around the nation.   Besides their rigorous academic standards, the school strongly encourages their students to engage in the community.  Thankfully, an appreciable number of Bellarmine students have chosen Wayside Christian Mission as a site for their volunteer services.  Among these is a group of students who have joined us in the fight against hunger.

     One of the students, Jessica, explained the program. “A small group of students and I have put together a food recovery program. This is where we are packaging unused food from our dining hall and donating it to organizations that have a demand for food. This helps reduce food waste and it gives a helping hand to the community.”  Since then, a number of students have arrived after dark bearing large trays of deliciously prepared foods.  This waste not want not approach benefits the women, men, and children in our care.

     We are grateful to these dedicated students who are making late night food runs to the mission.  The future looks a little brighter knowing these students are our future leaders.