Limiting Food Waste - Food Service Plan for Lander University
Halle Michael
Through conducting an informal survey, interviewing cafe staff, and conducting in-depth research from knowledgeable websites to gather information, Lander University’s need for a food service plan was discovered. After researching online, a connection was found between campus safety and student enrollment, and a direct correlation was found between hunger and violence in surrounding collegiate communities. Not only is there an apparent need for colleges to lower greenhouse gas emissions on campus, but there is a specific need for food donations in Lander’s surrounding community to increase safety for their students. The interview with the cafe staff resulted in the discovery of a computer-generated system, whose algorithms are said to produce precise amounts of food units to order, per day, that eliminate any excess food production. Following the interview with the cafe staff, an informal survey with 50 students on campus was conducted. The survey was conducted to find the average amount of meal swipes versus Bearcat Bucks used on campus. The low numbers found in the interview - 10% of students use all of their meal swipes every year - did not match up with the numbers given by the computer system. Solutions to the food waste issue were found in the Bear Necessities Food Pantry on campus and the Food Bank of Greenwood County which is found off campus. Both of these programs accept donations that follow FDA guidelines and ensure the food is given to those in need both on campus and in the surrounding areas. By creating a food service plan to donate extra food received by the cafe at Lander University and by donating surplus foods (in accordance with FDA standards) from the cafe, not only would Lander University lower their greenhouse emissions from food waste, but increase student safety and welfare, and increase food aid in the community.
Halle Michael is a freshman studying business administration at Lander University and a member of the Honors College. Having graduated from Lexington High School in 2022, Halle graduated top 10% of her class of 503 students, was a member of the National Honors Society, a member of the National Technical Honors Society, and represented her school in two different National Student Leadership Summits. She enjoys working out, gardening, cooking and hanging out with her friends and family in her free time.