For Immediate Release

Contact: Daniel Wackershauser, Marketing and PR Specialist
Phone: 608.822.2303
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: October 26, 2026

Community Support Helps Stock Katie’s Cupboard

Area businesses answer the call

Fennimore -

For some Southwest Wisconsin Technical College students, the biggest challenge of the day isn’t a test, a project, or an assignment. It’s wondering where their next meal will come from.

Since 2009, Katie’s Cupboard has provided a vital source of support for students facing food insecurity, offering emergency and supplemental food assistance so they can focus on what matters most: their education and their future. A job loss, rising grocery costs, or an unexpected expense can quickly stretch a household budget beyond its limits. For some students, that means skipping meals or going without basic necessities to make ends meet.

The need is real. In the 2025-2026 academic year alone, Katie’s Cupboard served students through 1,218 visits. Behind every visit is a student working toward a better future, often while balancing the demands of school, work, and family.

Thanks to the generosity of the community, donations are making a difference. During Chargers Day of Giving, supporters contributed more than $58,000 for Katie’s Cupboard, helping strengthen this essential resource for Southwest Tech students. Community First Bank also demonstrated the power of community support by donating a plentiful amount of goods to help stock the pantry. In addition, GoMacro donated cases of their nutrition bars to the food pantry.

These acts of generosity are about more than food. They are about showing students they are not alone, that their community believes in them, and that they deserve the opportunity to succeed.

As the holiday season approaches, Southwest Tech will once again come together for a campus food drive to help replenish Katie’s Cupboard and meet the growing needs of its students. Every donation, whether it’s a bag of groceries, a household essential, or a financial contribution, helps remove barriers to education and gives students one less thing to worry about.

Together, the Southwest Tech community can ensure that no student has to choose between putting food on the table and pursuing their dreams. Thank you for helping Southwest Tech build a stronger, more supportive community; one student, one meal, and one opportunity at a time.

To make a gift to Katie’s Cupboard, visit: swtc.edu/donation.