Northwood Tech’s Rice Lake Campus opens Blaze’s Cupboard to further serve student needs

RICE LAKE — Northwood Technical College’s Rice Lake Campus recently launched a new effort to support students’ needs with Blaze’s Cupboard, a service dedicated to helping ensure every student has access to nutritious meals at no cost. Items available for students include non-perishable food such as canned goods, pasta, rice and other shelf-stable products. The creation of Blaze’s Cupboard stemmed from an anonymous donation of $100,000, allowing for creation of a food pantry on campus.

The donation arrived by mail in March of 2023 with the only restriction that it be used for the Rice Lake Campus. After much thought, campus leaders decided the donation would be permanently endowed to fund student-focused initiatives, including the campus food pantry dubbed Blaze’s Cupboard.

Blaze’s Cupboard is an effort to address the diverse needs of both traditional and non-traditional students facing financial challenges. While there are options available for students to apply for scholarships and grants to cover any school-related expenses, that does not guarantee they will receive the necessary funds to do so. That’s why Blaze’s Cupboard has emerged as a crucial support system for students. This invaluable resource steps in to assist those without parental financial backing or students juggling the responsibilities of caring for their own children. By providing access to essential food items, the pantry not only tackles immediate concerns but also fosters an inclusive environment that recognizes and supports the various life circumstances of its student body. The initiative underscores the commitment of the campus community to ensuring that every student can focus on their education without the burden of food insecurity.

“We are grateful that someone had our students’ needs in mind when making this very generous gift,” said Dr. John Will, president of Northwood Tech. “Our students will certainly benefit from the pantry, and it could be the difference they need to stay focused on their success.”

All students on campus have access to the pantry, which opened in November 2023. Accessing Cupboard resources is free, confidential and easy. Students can select the items needed or wanted and follow posted instructions to sign out perishables from the pantry. Blaze’s Cupboard is located on the Rice Lake Campus, Room 105A, near the iTLC-W5 entrance. It’s open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the academic semesters for Northwood Tech students.

“Blaze’s Cupboard is making a positive impact on our students’ health, well-being and success by providing nutritious, shelf-stable foods at a time when grocery costs have grown significantly. Since opening, we’ve seen increasing use of this vital, free resource,” said Justin Johnson, dean of students for the Rice Lake Campus.

Blaze’s Cupboard is made possible through the generosity of Northwood Technical College Foundation Donors, and in partnership with Feed my People. With the 2024 spring semester underway, visit www.NorthwoodTech.edu/Foundation for more information or to donate funds for Blaze’s Cupboard or student scholarships. It is suggested that donors should specify if funds to be used for the food pantry on campus.