Cafeteria Nook Reworked for New Purpose

by Kat Brewer


At last, opportunity has knocked on the Student Center doors here at the Florissant Valley campus. Campus Life, cafeteria and school board staff collaborated this summer to bring St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley a new outlet to raise funds for our clubs and organizations that have recently undergone budget cuts. After current renovations to the space, our cafe will soon open the new “nook” where club members can volunteer to sell snacks after normal cafeteria hours in an attempt to raise funds for Florissant Valley clubs and organizations.

“Our club members are very excited about the opportunity to use the nook,” said Gwen Nixon, Florissant Valley Campus Life Manager.  Many clubs on campus will be taking advantage of the nook, it will not only serve as a benefit to several participating clubs on campus, the nook will also benefit Florissant Valley night students that arrive soon after the cafeteria closes and whom may not get the chance to eat before heading to class. “We are going for something like QuikTrip, where students can grab a quick bite to eat and make it to class,” Nixon said.

More than night students will be provided this service. Any students who are on campus from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. are supplied with an inexpensive alternative to mid-day cafeteria food. “We do not have our price list set yet, but all meals selected are fairly inexpensive, our committee is putting prices together currently,” Nixon explained.

The nook will offer several food choices that are concession-style, like nachos, popcorn, cotton candy, slushies, and other various snacks. The committee that is working to set up the nook is also looking to add a few healthier options to the menu. All menu items that have been chosen play a part in the feel of the nook as a grab-and-go spot rather than a place to buy a meal and spend time to sit and eat.

As for the workers volunteering in the nook, the committee’s plan is to have two students at a time volunteer to work a two and a half hour shift. The volunteers will be trained by the dietetics technology program in safety procedures before starting in the nook. Any club members in clubs participating at the nook are urged to sign up to work. “It is a collaborative effort, we are hopeful that it will give the students a chance to build new leadership skills while working in groups and develop an entrepreneurial spirit,” Nixon said.

The location is almost ready, the snacks are decided and the volunteers are being recruited. Florissant Valley students are urged to support our clubs at the nook when it is open. “We are hoping to get a lot of support from the campus at large. It is fundraising [that will be] going toward our students so that they can take advantage of conferences and leadership opportunities,” Nixon said. The nook is located at the front of the cafeteria in the Student Center. It will be open Monday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information about the nook or to volunteer, contact Gwen Nixon by phone at 314-513-4290 or by email at gnixon@stlcc.edu. 

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