On Monday, Brian Noy and Mary Laurel True of Augsburg’s Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning sat down and started brainstorming about ways to help—because that is what Auggies do.

“Actually,” True said, “President Pribbenow called and asked what we were going to do for North Minneapolis.” The two decided to organize clean-up groups to go to the area Wednesday and Thursday afternoon (see details below).

The Sabo Center is coordinating two clean-up trips to North Minneapolis, sandwich making on campus, and a donation collection. Noy says they are hoping to find a location to serve meals in the evenings as well. .

Ann Garvey, vice president of student affairs, reported that there are 66 students whose permanent address is in the affected zip codes, and several faculty and staff also live in North Minneapolis. Garvey offered to let displaced residents stay in the on-campus housing if needed.

For more information, “Like” the Campus Kitchen at Augsburg College Facebook page and read the Augsburg Daily A-mail for updates.

Ways to pitch in – UPDATED

Donation drive

Week of May 23

Bring donations of canned food, bottled water, diapers, blankets, clothes, and other household items to the Christensen Center welcome desk

1,000 peanut butter and jelly sandwich-making

Wednesday, May 25 10 a.m.-12 noon

Marshall Room, Christensen Center

Storm clean-up

Wednesday, May 25 12-4 p.m.

Meet in Christensen Center lobby

Storm clean-up

Thursday, May 26 12-4 p.m.

Meet in Christensen Center lobby

Neighborhood check-in

Door-to-door to check in on residents to gather information on service needs

Friday, May 27 12-4 p.m.

Meet in Christensen Center lobby

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Senior Joanna Flaten, Brian Noy of Campus Kitchens, and Urness hall director Amanda Temple coordinated the last-minute food collection effort. Two van-loads of food were donated to the Brian Coyle Center, and Campus Kitchens was able to use some of the food in a meal they prepared on Sunday evening.

“Next year, we hope it will be a bigger, campus-wide effort,” said Temple, “but I thought of the idea rather last minute and only put a collection bin in the Urness/Mortensen lobby.”

Because the Residence Life staff is busy with the physical aspect of move-out, both Temple and Amanda Erdman, Augsburg’s director of residence life, would like to see another campus office coordinate donations next year. Temple said, “We’d like to see a clothing donation, and maybe they could have a garage sale with proceeds benefiting a campus event or organization.”

Temple added that many people took discarded furniture, some of which was in almost-new condition. “There was no organization involved, but I know several people got good things out of the experience.”

The effort was a spontaneous conclusion to Urness’ “Go Green” initiative held in the month of April. Erdman said, “The Urness staff efforts throughout the month set the tone that led to such a quick success in the food donation and item exchange.” Erdman added that Residence Life hopes to move to more sharing and exchanging of items between community members in future closings.

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Noy is originally from Vernon Center, Minn., a small farming community south of Mankato. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2006 with a degree in Sustainable Agriculture. After graduation, Noy worked with the Institution for Agriculture and Trade Policy, which is a non-profit think tank research and policy institute. While there, he was instrumental in starting several small-scale farmers’ markets, including the one at the Brian Coyle Community Center.

He came to learn about the Campus Kitchen program through Mary Laurel True, who met him at what Noy describes as a “local foods happy hour.” Given his interest in food and education around community gardens, he thought Augsburg would be a great fit for him.

Noy said he is very excited and looking forward to getting the community garden off the ground next year. As a matter of fact, Noy said that four years ago he spotted this piece of land and thought then what a great spot this would make for a community garden.

“I’m excited that I can be part of creating what I only dreamed about four years ago.”

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