They began with bagels and donuts.

Now they deliver food such as stuffed shells and chicken verdicchio.

They are members of the Waste Not Project.

Every night the group picks up leftover food from Simmons Dining Commons and delivers it to one of four local shelters, such as the House of Care, 515 E. Beaver Ave., a personal care home and hospice. "It just made sense to me," Waste Not Project founder and 2004 graduate Tam Tran said. "People need the food, and there was just so much food left over."

Tran said she was inspired to start the project after she saw good food thrown away at a local bakery because of its policies.

After working secretly with two bakery employees for the summer of 2003, she approached Penn State Food Services in the fall about donating the dining commons' extra food.

"I think it's an excellent idea, and I commend the group for their dedication and perseverance," Simmons Dining Commons manager Karen Henderson said, adding that she was impressed by a volunteer who found a way to deliver food the night of the Homecoming parade.

Members typically volunteer once a week, and the group operates every night with one driver and two to three helpers.

Volunteers for the night call the dining commons to confirm pickup at 6:30 p.m. At 7:15 p.m., they pick up the hot box, which contains the food and is used to maintain a certain temperature level for food safety, at Simmons Dining Commons and deliver the food to one of the local shelters.

The group then unloads and unpacks the food with shelter employees and returns to Simmons Dining Commons with the empty hot box and pans.

"It's a lot less work than people realize," Waste Not Project President Erin O'Brien said.

But the work, some members said, is important. "I didn't do much in high school," Waste Not Project Secretary Justin Dubbs said. "I got to college and thought there's more things to college than going to class."

Bonnie Sharpe, a medical assistant at The House of Care, said the Waste Not Project's delivery of food donations helps shelters with budget constraints. Money that would have gone to buying groceries goes to other important areas.

She said the shelter relies on the donations of individuals and groups to continue service to their residents.

And it's also a welcome visit for many shelter residents.

"Some of them get really excited when we come -- especially the shelters with little kids," O'Brien said.

This year, the group celebrated its first birthday and is waiting to be notified of its status as an official Penn State group.

With about 30 consistent members, O'Brien said the group has a bright future. However, the group is always looking to recruit new volunteers.

"Our main challenge is securing our longevity at Penn State," Waste Not Project Public Relations Chair Roz McCann said. "I have a lot of faith that we have enough good people at this campus to keep this going and growing."