NU Senior Initiates Enhancements To Soup Kitchen
It’s been a couple of years since Niagara University launched a much-needed soup kitchen at the former St. George’s Church on Niagara Falls’ East side. And while the guests may have noticed some of the differences between then and now, much has changed behind the scenes as well.
For example, there is a more organized volunteer process. Teams of students are given schedules to follow to ensure there are enough volunteers on hand. The menu has expanded from soup and sandwiches to balanced meals that include salads and pastas. And in addition to Thursday night dinner, lunch is offered one Saturday each month.
But perhaps the most exciting change has been the establishment of an internship with the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management. The idea was developed by Erinn Hill, ’14, a hospitality student who served as soup kitchen coordinator in her senior year. Recognizing that this experience would be a good resume builder for her classmates, Erinn talked with Mike Daloia, ’09, operations and personnel manager atHeart & Soul dining room in Niagara Falls for advice before meeting with Monica Saltarelli, ’86, campus minister and Society of St. Vincent de Paul advisor, and Katie Finamore, the college’s director of experiential opportunities, to discuss the internship.