“Student Helping Students”
Cardinal Kitchen is an on-campus food pantry that services Ball State students and their families. Cardinal Kitchen was created through a Student Government Association (SGA) initiative in the fall of 2014. Cardinal Kitchen is a student-run organization.
Our mission is to reduce food insecurity and promote healthy eating on Ball State’s campus. During the 2015-16 school year, we saw over 300 clients with a total of 1,000 individual visits. During the 2016-17 school year, we saw 467 clients with a total of 980 visits. And just last year, during the 2017-2018 school year, we saw a record number of 570 clients with a total of 1,328 visits to the pantry.
Cardinal Kitchen has been combating food insecurity for students for four years, and we are currently located at the Multicultural Center. Our services are available to all undergraduate and graduate students, as well as their families.
In addition to non-perishable food items, Cardinal Kitchen also offers toiletry items, including, but not limited to: toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. In addition to the need for non-perishable food items and toiletry items, Cardinal Kitchen is in need of a new location. Cardinal Kitchen has been combating food insecurity for students for four years, and we are currently located at the Multicultural Center. Our services are available to all undergraduate and graduate students, as well as their families.
We currently operate out of a small room (approximately 3 by 4 yards) on the second floor of the building that has no room for growth, and we are struggling to help our growing number of clients. We would like to raise money for a new location on-campus that would be more client friendly and provides more space for food storage. We are currently looking at a space on campus, in the basement of the student center! As our numbers have continued to multiply, the need for a new location has become increasingly evident. We are currently based out of the Multicultural Center but are looking to move into a private, "Cardinal Kitchen only" space where we can better serve our clients.
Funds that are donated to Cardinal Kitchen may go to the following items or initiatives but are not limited to: purchase of non-perishable food items, purchase of toiletry items, equipment needed to run the kitchen, and relocation costs of Cardinal Kitchen.
