Basic Needs
Rainy River is committed to providing excellent educational opportunities to the communities it serves. We recognize basic needs — including things like food, housing and transportation — can have a direct impact on the wellbeing and success of our students.
We’re here to help and support you.
To assist our community in meeting these needs, we’ve compiled the resources below. The information will be revised when appropriate and evolve as necessary.
If you have additional questions, please contact Brad Krasaway at brad.krasaway@minnesotanorth.edu or 218-598-9308. Also, our Rainy River Advisors are available to meet with students who need assistance with basic needs issues.
Resources & Info
Minnesota North College and Minnesota State have partnered with United Way 211 to establish a statewide basic needs resource hub. The basic needs resource hub provides all students access to basic needs resources and support available on campus and in the community via phone, text, or chat 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
United Way 211 provides free and confidential health and human services information. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to connect you with the resources and information you need. If you’re looking for information about services available in your community for you or a loved one, they can help.
Text MNHELP to 898-211(TXT211) or call 211 (toll free at 1-800-543-7709) to speak with one of their highly trained information and referral specialists. Your call is completely confidential, and they have call menus in English, Spanish, and Hmong. Interpreters are also available for any language.
Visit the 211 website to learn more or to explore resources and support that may be available.
To search the 211 database of basic needs resources online, please visit the student basic needs website.
- Minnesota North College Accessibility/Disability Services
- Minnesota Diversified Industries: MDI is an equal opportunity employer providing jobs for people with and without disabilities. If you are a job seeker with a disability and require reasonable accommodation to apply for a job opportunity, please contact a member of the human resources team at 651-699-8281.
- Alcoholics Anonymous:
- Narcotics Anonymous
- Gambling Addiction: National Council on Problem Gambling 24 hour national confidential helpline: Call or Text 1-800-522-4700
- Emergency Financial Aid: contact the Financial Aid office
- Emergency Assistance for Postsecondary Students (EAPS) Grant Program
- Food Shelf at the Rainy Campus
- Open 8:00a.m.-4:30p.m. on class days
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Women, Infants, & Children (WIC)
- Call 211 or text MNHELP to 898-211 for free and confidential health and human services information, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Personal Counseling is available on a referral basis. Students who may be having
difficulty adjusting to college life or have other personal concerns should
talk with their Advisor about personal counseling as soon as possible - Mantra Health – FREE to Minnesota North College students
- Northland Counseling International Falls
- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- U Lifeline
- Here to Help online screening
- Help Yourself. Help Others.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- Mental health crisis response phone numbers in Minnesota
- Mental Health Minnesota
- Reclaim: Mental Health Support for Queer and Trans Youth
- The Trevor Project: For Young LGBTQ Lives
- The Steve Fund: Mental Health Support for BIPOC Students
- Veterans Crisis Line
- Rainy River offers two fully equipped computer labs on campus: SS135 and SS143. Computers are also available in the Library
- Koochiching County Technology Initiative
- Download Microsoft Office for free through Office 365
- Digital Inclusion
- Emergency Broadband Benefit
- Arrowhead Transport: 800-862-0175, option 5
- Speedy Van: Non-emergency medical transportation in Minnesota
- Jet – Northeast Minnesota Office of Job Training: 800-325-5332
The United Way: 2-1-1