Mission Statement
Founded in 2001, The Campus Kitchens Project is the national program of renowned local nonprofit and social enterprise, DC Central Kitchen. On university and high school campuses across the country, students transform unused food from dining halls, grocery stores, restaurants, and farmers’ markets into meals for their community. Because food alone will never end hunger, Campus Kitchens also develop innovative local solutions that go 'beyond the meal’ and target hunger’s root causes. Running a Campus Kitchen builds leadership skills, offers entrepreneurial opportunities, and fosters personal and community relationships that students both use today and carry with them into future careers.
Description
The Campus Kitchen at Augsburg University works to make healthy food accessible to all in and around the Cedar Riverside Neighborhood to provide for basic needs, service learning, leadership development, and genuine engagement between the University and the community. We have three components that all work to make learning happen through connections with food and the community:
Food to Share: Over 1,000 meals served each month by volunteers and service learners to youth programs, homeless shelters, seniors, and community centers. Most of the meals are created from the surplus food from A’viands Augsburg Dining, and some is prepared from scratch in our Campus Cooking Classes.
Food to Grow: Over 80 community garden plots for neighbors, organizations, and the Augsburg community organizations to grow their own food. Communal plots are open for anyone to harvest from, and excess produce is incorporated into the meal program.
Food to Know: Educational programming for students, neighborhood youth, and others help make the connection between food, health, and the environment. Participants develop cooking and gardening skills in addition to exploring other food issues.
