The Editorial Board commends the Hopkins Campus Kitchen organization for all the work its members have done to fight food insecurity in Baltimore. In years past, Campus Kitchen has worked to bring leftover Meals in a Minute to local citizens in need. However, with the arrival of Bon Appétit, Campus Kitchen faced new challenges as it tried to develop a plan with the new management similar to the one they previously had with Aramark. Recently, Campus Kitchen’s food resources director has negotiated with Bon Appétit management and the two parties have finally reached an agreement that will put leftover Meals in a Minute in the hands of the hungry instead of the compost bin.
Donating leftover food is an easy way to benefit other Baltimoreans, and in this city, nutritious, well-prepared food can be hard to come by. According to statistics from the Baltimore City and Feeding America, one in four Baltimore citizens lives in a food desert. These citizens are simply unable to easily access fresh, nutritious and affordable food. This issue is of paramount importance, and the Campus Kitchen organization is doing an excellent job of addressing this real crisis in a very focused and efficient way.
The Editorial Board would like to emphasize that while we acknowledge Bon Appétit’s willingness to donate food, we commend Campus Kitchen, especially, for advocating for and instituting this effort, and they deserve to be lauded. The group’s push to utilize otherwise wasted Meals in a Minute is an endeavor that will change the lives of many in need in the Baltimore area.
As a city, Baltimore would stand to benefit from more groups possessing the initiative that has been displayed by Campus Kitchen, and it would stand to benefit from more restaurants and food preparation services choosing to donate their leftovers.
Editor’s Note: Editor-in-Chief Jack Bartholet was not a member of the Editorial Board this week.
