EDWARDSVILLE, IL (KTVI) – In a corner of the Student Fitness Center on the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus sits a kitchen that’s cooking up something good.

“Valuable just in the grand scheme of things where someone is receiving a meal and personally I know that my role counts and I know that what I do is helping something be more sustainable for other people,” says Amanda Lands, a senior biology major.

Every Wednesday these five students meet as part of the campus kitchen program. It focuses on hunger, poverty and sustainability in the region. It does so by taking food donations from Vista Farms in Godfrey, SIUE Dining Services, A Little Taste of Heaven bakery and Cleveland-Heath restaurant.

“With the farm we know that we can pick the produce ourselves,” says Sarah Laux, the SIUE Assistant Director for Community Engagement. “We bring it back here and store it until we cook it. Then we prepare the food and deliver the meal.”

That’s every Wednesday afternoon, serving hot meals to 50 students at Sunshine’s Cultural Art Center in East St. Louis. There are currently campus kitchens on 39 college and high school campuses nationwide. SIUE’s program began in September.

“As global citizens we are responsible to everyone in our community,” says Laux. “If you have that avenue and skill you should put them to good use.”

“I think that’s important for everybody,” says Lands. “If you are going to be a member of your community be active. Be present in your community.”

Next summer they’ll begin harvesting some vegetables from their rooftop garden at the Student Fitness Center. That`s the same place with the tiny kitchen making a difference in the community.