THIBODAUX, La. – Nicholls State University’s Colonel Closet has received grants from three community supporters – the Bayou Community Foundation, the Louisiana Board of Regents and Rouses Supermarkets.
The Bayou Community Foundation contributed a $10,000 grant to Nicholls State University’s Colonel Closet for the third year in a row. This will aid the program in providing free resources to Nicholls students, faculty and staff in need, such as food and drink items, cleaning and bath supplies, personal hygiene necessities, basic household goods and some emergency financial assistance.
The Louisiana Board of Regents also awarded a $10,000 grant to help Nicholls expand and promote its Hunger Free Campus Awareness program. Funds will be used to distribute prepared meals, in collaboration with Nicholls’ Dietetics program and Sodexo, to university members at awareness events throughout the academic year and to purchase frozen prepared meals that will be distributed year round at the Colonel Closet for students residing on campus during holidays and breaks.
In addition, Rouses Supermarkets has renewed the dairy program for the third year in a row, helping provide dairy products for the Colonel Closet’s Dairy Max cooler at no cost to the university community.
“When the basic necessities of life are provided for, students will persevere in their studies and be successful in the larger mission of why they are here at Nicholls State University,” said Student Affairs Case Manager Andi Sonnier, LMSW.
About Colonel Closet
Created through the Nicholls Office of Student Affairs, the Colonel Closet has become a vision of hope following the ever-growing concern for the basic needs of students impacted by circumstances beyond their control. The mission is to reduce the environmental impact of wasted goods by providing Nicholls students, faculty and staff in need with access to donated, reusable necessities like clothing, household goods, small furniture items and school supplies at no cost.
The Colonel Closet has also become a platform for incorporating service hours for university organizations, employment for work-study students and internship opportunities for candidates in the Bridge to Independence program. In addition, the program has expanded by working with business, psychology and marketing major interns on its future plans. Long-term sustainability efforts for the project include maintaining partnerships with community and university organizations.
Redistributing usable items to others directly reduces landfill waste, preserves water, reduces chemical pollution and ultimately, reduces Nicholls’ carbon footprint while helping each other. Donations of quality, clean items with reuse potential from students, faculty, staff and the community are accepted year round during the Colonel Closet’s operational hours.
Contact colonelcloset@nicholls.edu or call 985-493-2529 for information on how to provide financial contributions. Surplus items are donated to local non-profit organizations.
To learn more about upcoming Colonel Closet events and initiatives, follow its Facebook, Instagram and TikTok pages.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, October 9, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: Payton Suire
Media Relations & Publications Coordinator,
985.448.4141 or payton.suire@nicholls.edu