**Community service** is a form of higher education institutions’ commitment to improving social welfare by providing positive contributions to the communities surrounding their campuses. The community service initiative carried out by the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), aimed at enhancing the production capacity and product quality of cracker (kerupuk) entrepreneurs, was positively received by the residents of Ngelom Pesantren Village, Taman Subdistrict, Sidoarjo Regency, on Sunday (August 27). This program was implemented in stages throughout 2023, encompassing the procurement of equipment, workshops, and periodic mentoring.

The head of the community service program, Qurrota A’yuni, S.Si., M.Si., from the Inorganic Chemistry Expertise Group, Department of Chemistry FST UNAIR, encouraged local cracker entrepreneurs in Ngelom Village to increase production while improving product quality. “Ngelom’s traditional crackers have maintained their distinctive characteristics for decades through recipes passed down from generation to generation; therefore, efforts to preserve these traditional crackers are essential,” said Qurrota. She further added that “this community service activity supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Decent Work and Economic Growth, through a focus on small-scale entrepreneurs and the rural economy.”