BEAVER, W.Va. (The Hinton News) – New River Community and Technical College officially opened the Hawk’s Nest Food Pantry at its Raleigh County Campus, expanding an initiative designed to help ensure students have access to basic necessities while pursuing their education.
President Dr. Bonny Ball Copenhaver joined Interim Director of Student Services Ms. Tammy Mills and representatives of the New River Community and Technical College Foundation for a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the opening of the pantry.
Located in Room 180 of the Raleigh County Campus, the Hawk’s Nest Food Pantry is available to all New River CTC students and will be managed by the College’s Student Services team.
The project was made possible through the New River CTC Foundation and the Bonny Ball Copenhaver Emergency Fund Endowment, which was established to help students facing unexpected financial hardships and other circumstances that could interfere with their ability to continue their education.
“Student success is about more than what happens in the classroom,” Copenhaver said. “When a student is worried about something as fundamental as having enough food, it becomes much more difficult to focus on coursework and completing a degree or credential. The Hawk’s Nest gives us another way to support our students, remove barriers and let them know that New River CTC is invested in their success.”
The Raleigh County Campus pantry is the College’s second food pantry. New River CTC also operates a pantry at the Advanced Technology Center in Ghent, and the College plans to continue expanding the initiative to its other locations. The Greenbrier Valley Campus is expected to be the next location to receive a similar pantry.
“The Foundation’s purpose is ultimately to create opportunities and provide support that directly benefits New River CTC students,” said Michael Green, Vice President and Executive Director of the New River CTC Foundation. “The Hawk’s Nest is a great example of that mission in action. Sometimes the difference between a student continuing their education and stepping away can be something that seems relatively small. If we can help remove one of those obstacles, then this is an investment well worth making.”
The College and Foundation intend for the Hawk’s Nest to grow beyond its current locations, with a long-term goal of providing similar food assistance resources throughout New River CTC’s service area.
“We want students to know that this resource is here for them and that there should never be a stigma associated with asking for help,” Mills said. “Our goal in Student Services is to connect students with the resources they need to be successful, and the Hawk’s Nest gives us another important tool to do that.”
For more information about New River Community and Technical College, visit the College’s website at www.newriver.edu.
