CSB Community Kitchen
Experiential Learning & Community Engagement

Community Kitchen volunteers plan a delicious meal, aiming for balanced nutritional content with a protein, vegetable, and starch. A pre-warmed, buffet-style meal is provided for participants, program staff, and Community Kitchen volunteers. Community Kitchen volunteers are responsible for the heating, transport, and serving of the food. Our volunteers also share in the meal and conversation with our meal recipients. Community Kitchen volunteers are responsible for cleaning the space, silverware, and dishes.

The facility in which the meal is hosted (meal site) is responsible for providing the space, tables, and chairs, and may be responsible for granting Community Kitchen volunteers access to the dishwasher, dishes, silverware, and cups if those items are available. The meal site is also responsible for communicating any changes to the accessibility of rooms, equipment, materials, etc.

The partnering organization (agency) is responsible for providing and advertising programming and maintaining open conversation with Community Kitchen and the meal site, notifying all parties in a timely manner (preferably one month in advance) when any changes to the programming schedule or location are made. The partnering organization is also responsible for communicating an estimate of the expected number of participants and must notify Community Kitchen of any expected significant changes in number of meals to be provided. Community Kitchen requires all partnering agencies to fill out an agency request form for ease of organization, selection, and coordination.

Seasonal changes: Community Kitchen volunteers may also bring surplus produce from local gardens with our congregate dining meals along with recipes and preparation instructions.

Agency Request Form

The following information about your organization and program will allow the CSB Community Kitchen Advisory Committee to process and assess which community partners and programs are best fit to be incorporated into future efforts.

Organization:

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Contact Person:

Title:

E-Mail:

Phone:

Program Name:

Program Location / Meal Site (Address & City):

Program Start Date (mm/dd/yyyy):

Program End Date (mm/dd/yyyy):

	Monday
	Tuesday
	Wednesday
	Thursday
	Friday
	Saturday
	Sunday

Brief Description of the Program:

Description of Demographic Served:

Number of Adult Meals to be Provided:

Number of Children Meals to be Provided:

Total Number of Meals to be Provided:

Please list any trainings, forms, background checks, etc. that would be required of Community Kitchen volunteers.

Additional Questions:

	Yes	No
Is your organization registered as a 501c3?
Are you currently receiving any donated prepared food (cooked food)?
If offered extra donated food, do you have sufficient refrigeration space to cool/freeze them?
If offered extra donated prepared food, do you have access to transportation and staff/volunteers to pick it up within 24 hrs?
Do you have staff/volunteers on-site that are trained in food safety guidelines?
Do you have internet access at your meal site?
Do you have a kitchen at your program location / meal site?
Does your organization or meal site have access to reusable plates, cups, and silverware?
Does your meal site have access to a dishwasher?
Would your organization be willing to cover a small cost per delivery for transportation?
Do you have your constituents report their experiences of food security?
Do you currently screen your constituents for SNAP eligibility? (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
Would your organization be willing to work with Community Kitchen to conduct eligibility screenings for SNAP?
Would your organization be willing to work with Community Kitchen to collect data regarding your constituents' experiences with food security?

	Average number of meals your organization serves per month:
	Total number of meals your organization served last year:

How did you hear about Community Kitchen?

Is there any additional information you would like Community Kitchen to know?

MISSION
Community Kitchen seeks to integrate the campus and community to increase access to high quality and nutritious food through a multifaceted, innovative approach to alleviating food insecurity with an emphasis on rural Stearns County. Our meal-delivery program utilizes surplus food on campus and in the community as a catalyst for education, collaboration, and community action.

VISION
Community Kitchen envisions a mutually beneficial campus-community partnership that educates and empowers us to transform the current food system and mindset into one which comprehensively supports and nourishes our community.

GOALS
• Distribute high-quality, nutritious food
• Increase wrap-around services such as financial literacy, sustainability, & nutrition education
• Bridge services to increase accessibility, especially in areas lacking transportation resources
• Reduce food waste on campus and in the community
• Advocate for local and national hunger relief programs
• Provide leadership and experiential opportunities for students
• Support sustainable and environmentally responsible programs and development

VALUES
Community Engagement
Community Living
Dignity of Work
Respect for Persons
Stewardship
Sustainability