Contact: Melanie Bélanger
District Marketing Director
Melanie.belanger@compass-usa.com

SAN LUIS OBISPO — For nearly 40 years, Cal Poly Partners and Campus Dining have partnered with Prado Day Center to provide meals for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity in San Luis Obispo County. Through the collaboration, Campus Dining’s culinary team has prepared and served more than 28,000 meals while giving Cal Poly employees opportunities to serve the local community. 

Campus Dining prepares and serves meals at Prado Day Center six times each year, with each event typically serving 80 to 140 guests. The partnership began in the late 1980s when Carly Baker helped establish the program with the support of her husband, Warren J. Baker, who was serving as president of Cal Poly. 

"Cal Poly has been one of Prado Day Center's most dependable and valued partners," said Carrie Baker, a longtime volunteer whose mother helped establish the program. "No matter what challenges come up, they always find a way to help. Their commitment has never wavered, and that consistency has made an incredible difference to our guests and our organization."

What started as a small volunteer effort has grown into a decades-long collaboration supported by Cal Poly Partners and Campus Dining's culinary professionals.

"Watching this partnership continue for nearly 40 years has been incredibly rewarding," Carly Baker said. "The people and leadership may have changed over the years, but the commitment never has. Cal Poly continues to show up, and that's why this program has endured."

Cal Poly alumnus Richard Equinoa first became involved with Prado Day Center while working as a Campus Dining student employee. That experience shaped his lifelong commitment to community service. More than two decades later, he continues volunteering at Prado Day Center and remains proud that his commitment to service began with Campus Dining.

"My first job was working in the dining hall at Cal Poly," Equinoa said. "It's part of Cal Poly's nature to give back, and this is a meaningful way to serve the community."

"Service is part of who we are," said Russell Monteath, associate executive director of Commercial Services at Cal Poly. "Our team looks forward to these meals every year they offer an opportunity to use our skills to support our neighbors and strengthen our community.”

Nearly 40 years after the first meal was served, Campus Dining and Cal Poly Partners continue the tradition, preparing and serving meals throughout the year for guests at Prado Day Center. 

Individuals interested in volunteering with Prado Day Center or supporting community meal service efforts can learn more through CAPSLO’s volunteer page. 

About Cal Poly Campus Dining
Cal Poly Campus Dining is an award-winning program, recently named the top program in the country for the 2025 Innovative Dining Program of the Year by the National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS). Dedicated to providing exceptional food and beverage services to the Cal Poly community, we strive to create a vibrant and inclusive dining environment for students, faculty and staff.

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