![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kualumni.org\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/KU-Maddie-Meyer.jpg\")
Within a week, the Corbin Hall resident had turned her spontaneous idea into an organized effort. She created flyers, set out donation bins in residence halls across campus, and started spreading the word in classes, on social media and, most successfully, by word of mouth with friends throughout the Greek community and other student organizations. \u201cIt all happened so fast,\u201d she says. \u201cAt first I thought, \u2018What if no one donates?\u2019 Then the bins started overflowing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than 2,000 items poured in\u2014canned goods, shampoo, detergent, toothpaste, snacks\u2014all purchased with Dining Dollars that would have otherwise vanished into the ether. \u201cI was not expecting that at all,\u201d Meyer says. Local media took notice; KU\u2019s student news channel featured Meyer\u2019s story, helping Leftovers with Love go viral around campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Donations were split between two local nonprofits: the Ballard Center, which received the food, and the Willow Domestic Violence Center, which received the hygiene products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballard holds special meaning for Meyer. Through her Pi Beta Phi sorority, she volunteers there weekly, helping preschool children with reading, counting and spelling. \u201cSometimes we just play with them on the playground,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That service experience, combined with Leftovers with Love, has shaped Meyer\u2019s sense of purpose at KU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve always been service-oriented,\u201d she says. \u201cI went to Catholic school my whole life, and service was a big part of that. KU is a different environment, but this showed me I could take what I\u2019ve learned and apply it here. It\u2019s given me confidence that I can take initiative and do something meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She plans to bring Leftovers with Love back this spring with even more coordination among KU Dining and student housing. \u201cIt all came together so quickly that I didn\u2019t have time to get official support,\u201d Meyer says. \u201cNow I want to build more structure so it lasts beyond me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her effort didn\u2019t just rescue unused Dining Dollars\u2014it inspired others to think creatively about giving. \u201cEven if two people benefit,\u201d Meyer says, echoing advice from her mom, \u201cthat\u2019s still two people better off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking back, she still sounds surprised at how far a single idea went. \u201cIt\u2019s crazy\u2014it just took off,\u201d she says. \u201cIt was the most fulfilling thing I\u2019ve ever been part of. Doing something greater than yourself\u2014that\u2019s what it\u2019s all about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chris Lazzarino, j\u201986, is associate editor of Crimson & Blue.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Leftovers with Love\u2019 encourages students to put their expiring KU Dining Dollars toward items for local charities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":753,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,15],"tags":[47],"class_list":["post-755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-jayhawks","category-students","tag-community"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kualumni.org\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Maddie-Meyer-KU.jpg\")
\n\n\n\nPhotos courtesy of Maddie Meyer<\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"