“I hardly waste anything anymore,” Houfer said.

Ann Swartz, with MSU’s Student Leadership Development and Service Learning Department, said Campus Kitchens is one of the best programs they ever had for students.

There are 136 students signed up to volunteer, she said, which is 136 opportunities to teach students what it means to be part of a community.

Beyond that, Swartz said there are real needs in the Mankato area that will be met with Campus Kitchens.

“We are just beginning to break through to find and help families that need this help the most,” Swartz said.

While the program is still brand new, one place in town says they’re looking forward to the help.

Pam Bartholomew of the Theresa House shelter in Mankato said they typically serve between 15 and 18 people at the shelter. They’d do more if fire codes would allow it, and she’s sure they have demand.

She’s heard word from other shelters and agencies around town that demand is higher, more people are hungry and more help is needed.

“(Campus Kitchens) will help our guests out,” Bartholomew said. “It’ll be nice for a mom with a lot of kids to have a nice nutritious meal when she gets home she didn’t have to do it.”

Eventually, MSU hopes to partner with community grocery stores and restaurants that can contribute either food for the cause or money to help continue the program.

They'll also need to get busy forming long-term partnerships — when the grant runs out, Campus Kitchens' financial connection to MSU is over, although they'll continue to partner with them on special projects and other things.