You take care of your classes. Let us help take care of the rest.
College is hard enough without wondering how you'll afford deodorant, pads, a notebook, or your next meal. Bear Necessities exists so you never have to choose between your basic needs and your education. No judgment, no paperwork maze, no shame — just support, whenever you need it.
You Belong Here, Fully Supported
Being a student means more than showing up to class. It means keeping the lights on, staying fed, staying clean and confident, and having someone in your corner when life outside the classroom gets heavy. Bear Necessities was built by the LEAD Center because we know that when your basic needs are met, you're free to focus on what you came here to do: learn, grow, and build the life you want. Whatever brought you here today, we're glad you did — and we're ready to help.
More Than a Handout
A hygiene bundle or a bag of groceries can get you through the week, but our goal isn't to hand you a bandage and send you on your way. Psychologist Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs shows us that people can't fully focus on growth, confidence, and achievement until their basic needs — food, safety, stability — are met. So we start there. But we don't stop there. Every visit to Bear Necessities is a chance for us to sit down with you, understand what's really going on, and help you work toward the root of it, not just the symptom. Our aim is for you to move up that hierarchy — out of survival mode and into the space where you can focus on school, on yourself, and on the future you're building at Northeast State.
Find the Support You Need
Everything here is available to you as a Northeast State student. Take what you need — that's what it's here for.
Personal Hygiene Bundles
Soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, and other everyday essentials, ready whenever you need to restock.
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Hygiene products are more expensive than people realize, and running out shouldn't stand between you and feeling like yourself. Request a bundle below and we'll get you taken care of.
School Supplies Bundles
Notebooks, pens, folders, and other basics so an empty backpack never gets in the way of your coursework.
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At the start of a busy semester, supplies add up fast. We keep bundles on hand throughout the year so you can gear up whenever a class calls for it.
Period Products
Pads and tampons available with dignity and without a second thought, whenever your cycle catches you off guard.
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Period products are available at the LEAD Center at no cost, and also at dispensers in the Humanities and Library bathrooms. If you ever find a dispenser empty on campus, let us know so we can restock it.
Food Pantry
Shelf-stable groceries and snacks on hand for the days when your fridge is empty and payday feels far away.
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Our on-campus pantry is stocked and ready throughout the semester. Come by, take what you need to get through the week, and come back anytime.
Success Coaching
One-on-one coaching to help you set goals, stay on track, and figure out what "success" actually looks like for you.
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Your success coach is someone in your corner — for talking through a rough semester, mapping out your next steps, or just having someone to check in with. This is personalized to you.
Life Readiness & Beyond
Workshops and guidance that go past the classroom — budgeting, job searching, and the everyday skills nobody teaches in a syllabus.
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College prepares you for a career. We want to help prepare you for life — from managing money to walking into your first professional interview with confidence.
Second Harvest Food Bank Distributions
Bear Necessities works with Second Harvest Food Bank throughout the year so support never runs dry between semesters. When Second Harvest brings a mobile distribution to campus, we'll post the date here and open sign-ups in advance so you can plan around it.
Sign Up for the Next Distribution DayGetting Support Starts With a Conversation
We're not just trying to patch things over. A quick consultation helps us understand your whole situation so we can connect you with everything that could actually help — not just the one thing you asked for.
Start with an intake consultation. A short, judgment-free conversation so we understand what's really going on.
Get connected to the right support. Bundles, the food pantry, coaching, or whatever combination fits your life right now.
Keep coming back. This isn't a one-time fix. We stay with you as things change, semester after semester.
Schedule a confidential intake consultation and let's figure out what will actually help.
Schedule Your Intake ConsultationA Few Common Questions
Do I have to prove I need this?
No. Bear Necessities is here for every Bear. You don't need to explain your situation or provide documentation to receive support.
Why does it start with a consultation instead of just giving me what I asked for?
We can absolutely get you a bundle or a bag of groceries by the next day. But if something bigger is going on — housing, transportation, an ongoing money crunch — a short conversation helps us connect you to everything available, not just the one piece you asked about.
Is this confidential?
Yes. Requesting Bear Necessities is private, and what you share with us stays between you and our team.
How often can I use these resources?
Bundles can be requested once a month, but should have everything you need for that month, minimum. This support isn't a one-time thing.
I want to help. How can I get involved or donate?
We welcome donations of hygiene products, non-perishable food, school supplies, and volunteer time. Reach out to the LEAD Center to find out what's needed most right now.
Come As You Are
The LEAD Center is your home on campus. Whatever you need today, we're glad to see you.
2425 Hwy 75, Blountville, TN 37617
Email the LEAD Center
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
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