As students line up for lunch, the Commons Cafe is doing more than just cooking meals for UPrep students. Felicia Lindholm, the owner of the Commons Cafe since 2019, initiated a mission to donate leftover food to local organizations in the region, working to serve both the students at UPrep and the broader community.
“You know, there are people with such an abundance of food, and yet there are people starving all over,” Lindholm said.
The Commons Cafe donations are not done in the public eye.
“A lot of times you guys are in class when we’re packing food up,” Lindholm said. “you wouldn’t know that we were packing meals.”
Often, Lindholm doesn’t plan ahead for donations, and the Commons often finds themselves with an abundance of leftover food, usually donated to the University District Food Bank down the street.
“If I see something that’s on a great sale and like, Thanksgiving is coming, I’ll buy a bunch of it and just take it down there.”
Lindholm has a special place in her heart for young children and animals, making sure to send food and supplies to animal shelters like Pasado’s Safe Haven in Bellevue and Knuckle Bump Farms in South Florida.
“And then I feel good because I also do animal shelters. So those are my two things. I want to feed people and I want to take care of animals.” Lindholm said.
Lindholm specifically chooses to send the food to Knuckle Bump Farms in South Florida because she’s closely connected to their message through social media.
“They’ve got Amazon lists, and I just go through, and usually it’s all dog food and kitty litter. They need stuff to feed their animals” Lindholm said.
Lindholm’s previous work experience in PCC and Whole Foods aided her in understanding the intricacies of food donation through trial and error. Due to the excessive restrictions, much of the food ends up being unable to be donated. Lindholm still puts effort into ensuring the food isn’t wasted by giving it away through other channels.
“On long weekends, we bring it out and let the teachers or whoever take it,” Lindholm said.
Junior Sonia Raghupathy, a co-leader of the Students of Service Club, did not know the Commons Cafe donated leftover food until recently.
“We don’t really hear about what the school is doing to give back to the community,” Raghupathy said. “It’s a really nice thing.”
While the Commons Cafe tries not to waste food, much of it still ends up in the trash because of students.
“They’re making a lot of food.” Raghupathy said, “They have so many ingredients, if we don’t finish the food it’s just kind of unfair to just throw all that food away. It should go to a good cause.”
Junior Marin Gant, another co-leader of the Students of Service Club, views the food donations as having a positive impact on UPrep’s sustainability efforts.
“It’s an amazing way to help the community and to not waste food. I think it is very sustainable,” Gant said. “It’s a really good practice. And it definitely makes me look at the school differently.”
Food donation has not only proved to prevent waste but has also brought the school community together.
“It makes me more proud to be a student just knowing that I’m part of something that’s helping other communities,” Raghupathy said.
Lindholm emphasizes that it is important to give back to others who are struggling.
“Everybody needs a little help now and then,” Lindholm said. “I’ve needed help. People help me. Everybody needs help.”