Community Kitchen, a Creighton student ran volunteer organization, boxed over 60 meals this past weekend to be delivered to less fortunate Omaha citizens in an effort to fight hunger among the homeless. 

Led by students Caleb Lewis, senior in the Heider College of Business and Aidan Nguyen, junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, the club has been providing opportunities for Creighton students to pack meals in partnership with Creighton’s Campus Kitchens on Saturday afternoons. 

“It’s a unique thing we have here at Creighton, being able to take freshly cooked food from the dining halls and bring it to those in need,” Lewis said.   

Lewis joined the organization his freshman year, but watched participation dwindle as COVID-19 halted plans for expansion of the club. Once the worst of the pandemic had cleared up, Lewis took charge as the club’s president.  

“It’s a legacy organization that’s been around for such a long time,” Lewis said. “We owed it to the organization itself and the people it serves to bring Community Kitchen back to Creighton’s campus.”  

After working with the Brandeis Dining Hall managers back in August to set up logistics for the idea, the club has held meal-packing events every Saturday since November of this year, which are available for sign up through CU Involved.  

“We usually allow for 5-7 students to sign up for each event, and spots fill up fast,” Nguyen said. “We think boxing the meals is a great way for students to get involved on campus, and we are looking to provide more off campus volunteering opportunities at the places we deliver the food to in the future.”  

This week, barbecue chicken, macaroni and cheese, and green beans were packed and delivered to the Timberlake Outreach Center, a homeless prevention center in northeast Omaha.  

After successful turnouts each weekend since November, Community Kitchen has managed to average 60 meals delivered each weekend, impacting hundreds of lives throughout the Omaha community.