Cougar Cupboard Receives Platinum Rating from Foodlink

The Cougar Cupboard, North Rose-Wolcott’s school-based food pantry, recently received a Platinum rating from Foodlink following an annual inspection! 

This designation indicates that the Cougar Cupboard has demonstrated excellence with regard to safety and sanitation compliance, organization and cleanliness, adherence to food safety practices and nutrition guidelines, and other required processes and procedures.

This is no small feat for the Cougar Cupboard, which is run by a volunteer board of directors, many of whom are NRW staff members. Since becoming board president a little over a year ago, Sandra Motyka, a teaching assistant in NRW High School’s Cougar OPS program, has put countless hours into ensuring the pantry meets standards - with the help of other volunteers.

“There are a lot of moving parts,” Motyka said. “There was a lot to do to prepare for that inspection.”

During the inspection – which takes between one and two hours – Foodlink representatives look at everything from the cleanliness of the pantry space to the signage at the site. They check temperatures and storage processes to ensure food is safely kept. Motyka must also complete a series of trainings to remain in compliance.

The Cougar Cupboard assists NRW families and community members with food needs by request and also sends food home to families over extended school breaks via Foodlink’s Backpack Program. Because of the support of Foodlink and other community partners, this school year the Cougar Cupboard was able to increase the number of backpack program distributions from five to eight.

The Platinum rating is a well-earned recognition of the dedication of our Cougar Cupboard volunteers, and Motyka and the board are looking forward to continuing growth and impact for years to come.

For more information on the Cougar Cupboard, email cougarcupboard@nrwcs.org.