UW Food Science Club Prepares Meals for Families in Need as Training

More than 86 community members in Laramie didn’t have to cook a meal the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Another 55 meals went to families in need.

Eight members of the University of Wyoming Food Science Club in the Department of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources prepared 86 pulled pork, mac and cheese, corn and America cake meals for pre-order, and another 55 were prepared to distribute to Laramie families in need.

Club sponsor McKensie Harris says COVID-19 has clipped events the club would have normally catered while providing members valuable experience.

“We wanted to continue to build our membership’s understanding and participation in food prep, so we decided to prepare a meal as a takeout service for the Laramie community,” says Harris, an assistant lecturer in the department. “The goal was to provide people with the chance to order food online for takeout, so they wouldn’t have to cook and could take a break from the kitchen one night of the week.”

UW Meat Lab Manager Kyle Phillips also assisted.

Customers parked in the Animal Science Building parking lot, called the Meat Lab, and meals were delivered curbside.

Harris says the club paid for the food. Meals were purchased for $8.50, which covered the cost of the food preparation.

Pastor Nathan Keith, of Trinity Lutheran Church, worked with local charities to identify families in need, and he and his wife, Jill, an assistant professor in the college, coordinated the delivery. Members of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources leadership team donated to cover the costs.

Harris says the club plans to offer at least one takeout service per month during the spring semester.

“It is our hope to offer unique meals that aren’t commonly seen at restaurants in Laramie,” she says.