Spring 2005

Campus Kitchen branches out

Campus Kitchen coordinator Jonathan Kaufman (back left) prepares volunteer students to deliver hot meals to the Salvation Army.

Stephen Anzaldi

By Judy Moore

The Campus Kitchen at Northwestern, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting hunger in the Evanston community, continues to branch out.

Campus Kitchen volunteers are now involved in the P.T.A.-run “Books and Breakfast” program at Dewey School.

The “before-school” initiative provides a healthy and complete breakfast as well as homework assistance to about 20 pre-kindergarten through 5th grade Dewey students.

Jonathan B.W. Kaufman, the new coordinator of the Campus Kitchen at Northwestern, said that one of the Dewey School P.T.A. volunteers often reads aloud to the children during and after their breakfast.

“The role Campus Kitchen plays is to assist with the food,” said Kaufman. “We provide orange juice, bagels, muffins, breakfast sandwich baguettes, dry cereals and instant oatmeal, and Northwestern student volunteers help some of the children with their homework.”

In addition to nourishment, Kaufman said the new program provides a mentoring system for the elementary school students. Northwestern student volunteers also serve as positive role models for the youngsters.

The Campus Kitchen operates on Northwestern’s Evanston campus, and utilizes shared kitchen space, donated food and the energy of students, faculty and community.

Campus Kitchen volunteers prepare meals on campus and deliver them to agencies and individuals in the community. Meals are paired with services such as tutoring, counseling and case management.

Northwestern’s Campus Kitchen also runs a program called Summer Food for Kids that is designed to teach children about nutrition and culinary techniques that they can use throughout their lives.

Campus Kitchen volunteers engage in service, learning and reflection, activities that will help to create a new generation of service-minded adults.

In addition to being involved in the P.T.A.-run “Books for Breakfast” program at Dewey Elementary School, Northwestern’s Campus Kitchen is serving 650 meals per week to 50 homebound senior citizens and individuals recovering from addictions, as well to children in the after-school programs at Family Focus and the Salvation Army, residents of Housing Options for the Mentally Ill and the Y.W.C.A.’s Battered Women’s Shelter.

Campus Kitchen also is about to become involved with a new program called “Kids That Care,” run by teenagers in the Family Focus program Campus Kitchen already serves. The new student-run program invites families in need and makes nutritional meals that include a protein, starch, vegetable and healthy dessert available to them.