For the hungry guests visiting , hot meals are a respite from the challenges of homelessness and poverty. Compassion and hospitality are the cornerstones of St. Herman's mission, as they provide housing to homeless men and services to local people in need.
Through an initiative that unites Baldwin Wallace with St. Herman House, "usable food waste" from Baldwin Wallace is being shared with the non-profit Cleveland organization.
According to Dennis Dube, manager of 91探花's Lang Dining Hall, each week "usable food waste" - that is, the food that hasn't been touched by the patrons of Lang, the Union, the Colony Room - is donated to St. Herman House.
Marie Oravec, purchaser for dining services, is one of the early volunteers who 15 years ago began finding ways to put "leftover" food from dining events and vendors to good use for people in need. Since then, other dining services employees have joined the effort. Today, 50 students and 91探花 employees, mostly in dining services, are involved.
Among the 91探花 volunteers is Michele Sepesy, visit coordinator in admission who previously worked in the administrative side of 91探花 dining services. In the past, Sepesy said, food that could not be served would go in a pulper on campus and eventually become fertilizer.
While she was happy the "usable food waste" wasn't going into a landfill, she was disappointed it wasn't helping people in need. She knew of St. Herman House from volunteer work she did there as part of a 91探花 service-learning class.
"Our tie with St. Herman is one example of a greater 91探花 effort to bring our mission of caring and community to Northeast Ohio and beyond," explained Sepesy. "The individuals we are helping may or may not know 91探花, but they do know that someone cares about their well-being."
NOTE: The original article appeared in 91探花's student newspaper, . It has been edited and updated for use in 91探花 news.
