When Northeast State Assistant Professor Dr. Nathaniel Weber researched the problem of food insecurity among college students, he decided to help Northeast State students facing this need.
In the spring semester of 2019, with the support of the Johnson City campus leadership, he founded a food pantry at the Johnson City campus. He stocked the pantry with foodstuffs bought from his own pocket. He continues to do so with the help of donations from Northeast State family. The pantry also stocks personal and toiletry items for students.
“Our faculty and staff as well as students contribute to the pantry without being asked,” said Weber who teaches Science courses including Anatomy & Physiology at the Blountville and Johnson City campuses. “We also discovered the need for personal items through talking with students.”
Assistant Professor Nathaniel Weber at the Johnson City campus food pantry.
Through the Student Needs Project, the office of Scholarship Programs provides food assistance to Northeast State students via the Mobile Food Pantry partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank. The pantry visits the Blountville and Kingsport campuses once per month during the fall and spring semesters. Students enrolled at the Elizabethton or Johnson City campuses can participate in the Mobile Food Pantry by filling out an application of need. Students can also receive assistance or research other community food pantry locations at Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee.
Approximately 560 full-time and part-time students attended the Johnson City campus this fall. Weber said meeting students’ immediate needs also compelled him to start the available-on-demand pantry to serve students day to day.
“The ability to get food becomes an either/or choice for more students than we believe,” he said. “The need is out there.”
When Northeast State Assistant Professor Dr. Nathaniel Weber researched the problem of food insecurity among college students, he decided to help Northeast State students facing this need.
In the spring semester of 2019, with the support of the Johnson City campus leadership, he founded a food pantry at the Johnson City campus. He stocked the pantry with foodstuffs bought from his own pocket. He continues to do so with the help of donations from Northeast State family. The pantry also stocks personal and toiletry items for students.
“Our faculty and staff as well as students contribute to the pantry without being asked,” said Weber who teaches Science courses including Anatomy & Physiology at the Blountville and Johnson City campuses. “We also discovered the need for personal items through talking with students.”
Through the Student Needs Project, the office of Scholarship Programs provides food assistance to Northeast State students via the Mobile Food Pantry partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank. The pantry visits the Blountville and Kingsport campuses once per month during the fall and spring semesters. Students enrolled at the Elizabethton or Johnson City campuses can participate in the Mobile Food Pantry by filling out an application of need. Students can also receive assistance or research other community food pantry locations at Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee.
Approximately 560 full-time and part-time students attended the Johnson City campus this fall. Weber said meeting students’ immediate needs also compelled him to start the available-on-demand pantry to serve students day to day.
“The ability to get food becomes an either/or choice for more students than we believe,” he said. “The need is out there.”
Share this:
Like this: