Cinnamon rolls, almond poppy seed cookies, roasted almonds, homemade bread, muffins and even candy corn brownies were for sale outside of the Dean of Students’ office on Thursday, Oct. 28 for their annual bake sale. 

No prices were attached to each item and patrons could donate via cash or Venmo however much they could. All proceeds went to the Ripple Effect organization that provides students with winter clothing such as coats, boots, hats and gloves. 

“Each fall we try to do a bake sale right around Halloween to raise funds so that we can have resources so that we can purchase winter wear for students that need it if we don’t have something that’s already available in their size,” Haley Rhoades, assistant dean of students and advisor of Ripple Effect, said. “Some students come to Northern from downstate Michigan or the U.P. or California or Georgia and think that what they have is suitable to wear when they’re walking from the residence hall to class, and they realize soon after the winter hits that they need something more.”

Ripple Effect has a room in the NMU Food Pantry that students can visit but they also stock a rack outside of disability services with free coats that any student can use. 

In addition to winter wear, Ripple Effect also helps out students who may not be able to purchase bedding on their own. 

“They might be sleeping on a mattress with no sheets or using clothing to stuff into a t-shirt so that they have a pillow,” Rhoades said. “We try to put together a care package of stuff that we have at the food pantry in the Ripple Effect room and get it to that student so that they have sheets, have a comforter, have a pillow because sleep is important for academic success and being able to get to class when it’s 20 below zero is important for academic success.”

Most of the goods being sold at the fundraiser were made by home cooks and NMU staff members that work in Hedgcock. However, for those that were not comfortable eating homemade items, a few store-bought treats and fruit were offered as well.

“A lot of staff in the Hedgcock building know about student obstacles, and they know that having resources, just little resources to help students, can really make a difference on whether a student can stay enrolled,” Rhoades said.

For anyone who missed the bake sale and would like to donate money or winter items to Ripple Effect, they can contact the Dean of Students Office at [email protected].