Loyola, Dillard, Nicholls, Xavier Dining Teams Overcome Winter Storm

When a powerful winter storm swept through Louisiana, it disrupted daily life, forcing closures and limiting mobility. However, despite the severe conditions, the dining teams at Loyola University New Orleans, Dillard University, Nicholls State University, and Xavier University of Louisiana stepped up to the challenge. Through careful planning, proactive communication, and unwavering dedication, they ensured that students remained fed and supported.

Loyola Dining’s Strategic Storm Preparation

At Loyola University New Orleans, Chef Matthew and the dining team took early action, ensuring that students would not go without meals:

• Proactive Communication: The team utilized social media, instant messaging, and on-campus flyers to provide continuous updates about dining services and available resources.
• Stockpiling Essentials: Non-perishable items such as muffins, chips, fruit, pastries, and sandwiches were stored in advance for emergency use.
• Grab-and-Go Bags: These were distributed to students, campus police, and facility workers, ensuring those on campus had immediate access to food.
• Collaborative Planning: The team coordinated with Loyola’s leadership to align dining services with city announcements, closures, and virtual class schedules.
• Adapting Menus and Hours: A storm-specific menu was implemented to work with adjusted hours while still meeting students’ nutritional needs.
• Residential Life Partnership: Dining collaborated with Residential Life to serve students amid staffing shortages.
• Leveraging a Collaborative, Local Partnership: To ensure students on the Broadway Campus had meals despite travel restrictions, the dining team worked with Baku, a valued local partner, to distribute 400 heat-and-serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals. This collaboration strengthened Loyola’s efforts to provide uninterrupted meal access, reinforcing their commitment to student well-being during the storm.

Dillard Dining Keeps Services Running Despite Challenges

At Dillard University, the dining team’s leadership and flexibility were instrumental in keeping students nourished:

• Daily Leadership Meetings were held to strategize responses and define team roles.
• Adjusted Schedules ensured adequate staff coverage while prioritizing safety.
• Brunch and Dinner Service remained operational to maintain a consistent meal schedule.
• To-Go Meals were prepared and distributed before campus closures, ensuring that students had food available.
• Student Communication was a priority, with regular updates via social media and instant messaging to keep everyone informed about meal times and service adjustments.

Nicholls Dining Overcomes Staffing Challenges to Serve Students

At Nicholls State University, the storm severely limited staff availability, yet the dining team found solutions to ensure students in residence halls remained fed:

• Pre-Storm Meal Distribution: Before conditions worsened, the team provided 200 meals and snacks to on-campus students on Monday, ensuring they had food until service could resume.
• Continued Support: Despite limited personnel, those who could return by Thursday afternoon continued to distribute 200 meals per day until dining operations fully reopened on Friday.

Xavier Dining Supports Over 1,000 Students, Including LSU Health

At Xavier University of Louisiana, the dining team faced the challenge of providing meals for more than 700 students residing on campus, along with an additional 350 students at LSU Health in New Orleans.

• Staff Commitment: While some staff members were snowed in for one day, others traveled as needed to keep dining services running.
• Brunch Schedule Implementation: A streamlined brunch meal schedule was adopted to maximize efficiency while ensuring students received ample nourishment.
• Support for LSU Health: In addition to feeding Xavier students, the team provided meals for 350 students at the LSU Health campus in New Orleans, ensuring those living in off-site housing were not left without resources.

A Unified Effort in the Face of Adversity

The dining teams at Loyola, Dillard, Nicholls, and Xavier showcased resilience, adaptability, and commitment in response to the winter storm. Their collective efforts ensured that more than 1,500 students had access to meals despite logistical hurdles, road closures, and staffing challenges.

Through strategic planning, proactive communication, and a dedication to student welfare, these teams went beyond expectations, proving that even in the toughest conditions, they remained a pillar of support for their campus communities.