Over the past year, the Konza Student Table has been giving out free meals every Wednesday.
The partnership between K-State, the Food and Farm Council, and St. Isidore’s has been helping to feed those in the community affected by the pandemic. Father Gale Hammerschmidt says the reality of the situation is the food insecurity in Riley County.
“Especially among university students. We didn’t have a good way of reaching out to the university students here locally, I mean near campus so people could walk up and receive the assistance they needed, but this is just some added assistance for those who are in need.”
Father Gale Hammerschmidt says the program has been helping to feed those in the community, as a whole, that have been impacted by the pandemic. He says they know of the impact this program has made.
“They feel it if they aren’t here on that Wednesday,” Hammerschmidt adds. “If they miss out on that Wednesday, it changes their week. So, this does make an impact. There is even a great story of a gentleman who recognized one of the ladies standing next to him was probably even in more need than he was, so he offered his meal to her.”
Wednesday will not only mark the one year anniversary of the program, but also the 20 thousandth meal given out. Kelly Whitehair, K-State Assistant Director of Dining Support Services, says this program has become more than just handing out free meals.
“We have to nourish them, you know. We know that individuals who eat, do well in school, that’s what they are here for,” Whitehair says. “We need them to be able to attentive, to be happy. I feel like when they come through we are also socializing with them and I think that was super important during COVID, especially, when we knew they weren’t getting a lot of interaction.”
The program began as the unforeseen circumstances hit the students and members of the community. Whitehair adds that, since then, the community has built up over the past year and the support has been amazing. She says, that alone, has helped to alleviate the stress of the program.
“We appreciate how gracious they are. That’s something you don’t always experience in all food settings, but this one is a little bit different. You see those families that come through, and the fact that we have individuals who may come through and this is their night out with the kids, is on Wednesday’s when they come get that meal. So, we are having that impact.”
The impact of the Konza Student Table has now been in action for one year (Wednesday, September 8). Along with that, the organization will also be handing out their 20,000 meal served.
To learn more about the Konza Student Table, visit @konzastudenttable on Facebook.
