When students walk through the doors of Germanna Community College, they bring with them dreams of a brighter future—but for many, they also carry the weight of everyday challenges: food insecurity, the rising cost of living, and the stress of balancing family and coursework.
Thanks to the Germanna Cares program, the challenges that stand in the way of success are greatly reduced. Germanna Cares helps students find their path to self-sufficiency and makes immediate impacts in their lives by supporting them with critical needs, including food, connections with resources for transportation, and wellness and mental health support.
More than meeting basic needs, it gives them the space to focus on what matters most: earning their degree.
“Germanna Cares is about more than providing resources—it’s about providing hope,” said Melissa Leecy, Vice President for Community Engagement at Germanna Community College. “When we help to meet students’ basic needs, we give them the freedom to focus on their education and their future. That’s the heart of our mission.”
Through Germanna Cares, the College’s Counseling team connects students with essential support services that help them stay on track. From annual resource fairs and one-on-one screenings with the SingleStop eligibility tool to on-campus Medicare sign-up sessions and the career clothing closet, these programs provide the guidance and stability students need to keep moving toward their goals. Each year, more than 400 students take part—proof that when basic needs are met, education can take center stage.
Germanna’s commitment to student well-being extends far beyond campus walls. Through partnerships with federal, state, and local organizations—including the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, Continuum of Care, Hunger Action Coalition, and the Lake of the Woods Lions Club—the Counseling team helps create stronger pathways to self-sufficiency. Together, these partners make Germanna a vital hub for access to healthy food, housing, and essential resources.
In September 2023, the College expanded its on-campus food pantry, Bear Necessities, to become a part of the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank’s Healthy Pantry Initiative, a statewide movement to offer more nutritious options. The expansion was made possible through generous community partnerships, including an $8,500 grant from the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank.
Across its locations in Fredericksburg, Locust Grove, and Stafford, Germanna’s Bear Necessities offers fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable foods, along with hygiene products, diapers, and even baby formula when available.
Alongside the Bear Necessities pantries, Germanna has introduced more convenient ways for students and community members to access resources. The College serves as a distribution site for the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank’s OrderAhead program, part of the Feeding America Network. Through this partnership, participants can order groceries online and pick them up during Germanna’s monthly Mobile Food Pantry events—a drive-thru style distribution that brings fresh, nutritious food directly to those who need it most.
Held monthly at the Fredericksburg Area and Locust Grove Campuses, these Mobile Pantry events make it easier than ever for students and community members to access nutritious food discreetly and with dignity.
Behind every bag of groceries and every box of supplies is a dedicated team of staff and volunteers—the true heart of Germanna Cares. Their compassion ensures that no student has to choose between meeting basic needs and pursuing their education.
“Every meal shared, every student supported, is a reminder that we’re all part of something bigger,” said Dr. Sarah Somerville, Associate Dean of Student Development. “When we come together as a community, we empower students not just to stay in school, but to believe in their potential—and that changes everything.”
Germanna’s mission has always been to provide quality educational opportunities—but programs like Germanna Cares helps make that mission possible by addressing the whole student.
Every pantry visit, every SingleStop eligibility screening, and every drive-thru Mobile Pantry distribution reflects the generosity of a caring community. Together, these efforts keep students on the path to self-sufficiency and success.
As Germanna looks to the year ahead, continued support will ensure that no student is left behind—because when basic needs are met, education can truly transform lives.