Today: Feb 14, 2025

Food recovery event is held on campus

Solé Scott – Features Editor

Ever wonder what happens to food on campus after not being eaten? Well, look no further than the food recovery program on campus. 

The Food recovery program is a volunteer experience where students collect unbrought food from the Bagel wagon and Dunkin Donuts. Leftover food is taken from Connecticut Hall only if it has been mass-produced. 

 Cultural Anthropology and Sociology major Chris Kowalski, a junior, is a transfer student who is a student worker who helps with food recovery. 

“I’m on campus five days a week because of this,” said Kowalski. 

Kowalski is the team lead student worker who makes sure all leftover food around campus is properly packaged so he can store them in a Southern Van and go around New Haven to donate the food. 

“Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, I bring it to Park Ridge apartments, which is like assisted living,” said Kowalski. 

Business Information Systems major Minhajul Mahid, a sophomore, volunteered on Thursday for the first time. 

“I like helping,” said Mahid. 

Most of the time, Kowalski is the only one collecting leftover food, which is why the sustainability office encourages volunteers Monday through Friday. 

“I’m right outside of Bridgeport, so it’s like a half-hour commute,” said Kowalski. 

The preparation of the food at Conn is a meticulous process that needs to be followed step by step.  

First, Kowalski takes a cart to transport food and enters a walk-in refrigerator where his items will be waiting on a shelf. 

After he grabs the leftovers, he wears gloves and packages the food in containers. 

Psychology major Devon Wilson, a junior, is a student worker at the food pantry. 

“I have worked at the food pantry for around two years now,” said Wilson. 

The university has a Food Recovery Network chapter that has been active since Feb. 2016. 

According to data collected by Food Recovery Network, the university has donated 63,590.15 pounds since the spring of 2016. 

“Food recovery is basically composting the excess food that is used in Conn Hall,” said Wilson. 

Contact Chris Kowalski kowalskic2@southernct.edu if you are interested in volunteering for food recovery, as he is looking for volunteers to help him. 

Some days, there is no food to pick up, which is not abnormal. 

“I came down here with a couple of Yale students on a Saturday and no food,” said Kowalski. 

Once all the food has been properly packaged, it is weighed for Kowalski records, which he enters in a spreadsheet later on. 

“We are having the Fall Harvest Festival in the office of Sustainability today. It is essentially a food drive that is going to benefit the food pantry on campus,” said Kowalski. 

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