Photo Friday | Cajuns Don't Waste

I'm so excited for today's Photo Friday post! I love seeing when people simply do good work, especially if it's something that other people would find a reason not to do.

As finals have wrapped up, students head back home, and UL Lafayette's fall graduation is today, the UL Lafayette Office of Sustainability saw an opportunity to divert a lot of food waste after the semester ended.

The office's graduate student, Dylan Harrell, spearheaded the project that collaborated with UL Lafayette Dining Services, and together, the groups collected unused food that will go bad over winter break and donated it to the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Office of Sustainability Director Gretchen, left, and Service Grad Student Dylan, second from left, work with others to donate unused dining hall food to the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Instead of leaving the food to go bad and trashing it all, families in need will now have fresh produce and dairy products available to them right around the holiday season.

Office of Sustainability Director Gretchen Vanicor reported that the group was able to donate 306 pounds of produce and 74 pounds of dairy products!

I absolutely love seeing people take this kind of tangible action. While many hesitate to donate unused food to shelters or food banks, UL Lafayette went ahead and did it anyway, and many families in Acadiana will benefit from the generosity.

On that note, congratulations to all UL Lafayette fall graduates, and good luck to the Ragin Cajuns in tomorrow's New Orleans Bowl!