February 23, 2023

Feb 23, 2023 – A favorite local coffee shop is hoping to fill up more than just mugs this March. Bully Brew Coffee East Grand Forks is teaming up with Northland Community and Technical College to host a food drive during the month of March in an effort to fully stock the shelves of Pioneer Pantry, Northland’s newly opened on-campus food pantry. Northland’s Phi Theta Kappa honor students led the coordination with Bully Brew to organize the event.

Sandi Luck, Founder and CEO of North Dakota Coffee Roastery and Bully Brew, has long used her multiple business ventures as a way to stay connected with the communities she serves. Giving back is one way she’s been able to support local causes like Pioneer Pantry.

“We teamed up with Northland last year to develop the college’s own brand of coffee called Rocket Fuel, which we used as a fundraiser and newsmaker for Northland,” Luck said. “It was a great collaboration. As a graduate, Northland is near and dear to my heart, and I am excited to give back to the community that gave to me.”

Food insecurity is a challenge for approximately one-third of all college students. While never having a formal program in place, Northland always provided assistance to students who requested it or connected students with local food pantries to help meet their needs. Pioneer Pantry, along with the recently launched Northland Cares program, is the college’s latest effort to combat the many barriers to student success.

Aiden Kompelien, a Construction Electricity student who was recently named to the All-Minnesota Academic Team, is one of the students helping organize the food drive in coordination with Bully Brew.

“Everyone on campus is buzzing – pun intended! – about our new Pioneer Pantry,” Kompelien said with a smile. “It’s been a community effort to open the pantry, and we’re so thankful to Bully Brew for opening their doors to help us now stock the shelves with donated food items.”

The month-long drive kicks off Saturday, March 4th, at the East Grand Forks Bully Brew with an extra special perk – yes, more puns. Customers who bring in a non-perishable food donation that day will get $1 off any purchase and a coupon for $3 off a bag of Northland’s Rocket Fuel. Members of Northland’s Student Senate will be volunteering that day to help with donations and share the story of Pioneer Pantry. A donation box will be set out throughout March, and the public is encouraged to stop in during regular business hours to drop off their donations.

“The rising cost of food hits all of us, but it hits especially hard for college students,” said Dr. Sandy Kiddoo, President of Northland Community and Technical College. “We’re fortunate to be able to open up a service like Pioneer Pantry to give our students direct and free access to a basic need, and we’re even more fortunate to have local businesses that care enough to help.”

If you’d like to make a direct donation to Pioneer Pantry, contact Jeff Pool, Dean of Student Affairs, at 218-793-2460 or jeff.pool@northlandcollege.edu.