Bellevue University Student Helps Provide 3,412 Pounds of Food to York Families Through Class Project
Bellevue University student Hannah Eatherton completed a community food drive in York, Nebraska as part of the Kirkpatrick Signature Series. The initiative collected more than 3,400 pounds of food to support a local pantry and provide meals for families.
Key Facts
- Hannah Eatherton completed a Civic Engagement Project through the Kirkpatrick Signature Series
- Project supported Blue Valley Community Action food pantry in York, Nebraska
- Food drive goal: 1,500 pounds of food collected in July
- Total collected: 3,412 pounds of food
- Donations provided 2,844 meals
- Contributions delivered on August 1 in three truckloads
- York pantry recorded 88 visits in July with low supplies
Civic Engagement Project Drives Community Impact
When Bellevue University student Hannah Eatherton began the Kirkpatrick Signature Series (KSS), she thought she already knew what it meant to be an engaged citizen. By the end of the course, she realized there was more to it — and that shared values can lead communities to work together to give back.
The KSS is a required course for all Bellevue University undergraduates and includes a key assignment: the Civic Engagement Project (CEP). The project requires students to plan and complete a community initiative, often involving volunteer work, and connect it to the course materials.
For Eatherton, the focus was her own community York, Nebraska. After seeing Facebook posts from young families struggling to afford groceries, she decided to help.
“As a young parent myself, I’m fortunate not to face food insecurity, but I empathize with those who do,” Eatherton said. “No one should have to choose between feeding their children and paying for essentials like rent, electricity, or water.”
Food Drive Exceeds Goal and Supports Local Pantry
Through her workplace, Cornerstone Bank — with nine locations and 230 employees in York County — Eatherton launched a food drive for York’s Blue Valley Community Action food pantry. Her goal was to collect 1,500 pounds of food between July 1 and July 31.
By the end of the month, the drive collected 3,412 pounds of food — more than double her goal — enough to provide 2,844 meals.
On August 1, Eatherton and her team delivered three truckloads of donations to the pantry. The donation came at a time when the pantry had 88 visits in July and supplies were low.
“Without this course, I don’t know if I would have considered doing something like this,” Eatherton said. “Now, I’m planning to do more activities that support my community.”
The Kirkpatrick Signature Series explores the institutions and traditions of Western Civilization, the principles of American government, and the responsibilities of citizenship. Through discussion and hands-on learning, the series encourages students to think critically about the relationship between tradition and change, freedom and responsibility, and to engage actively in their communities.
Founded in 1966, Bellevue University is a non-profit university with more than 70,000 graduates worldwide. The University is a recognized national leader in preparing students for lifelong success with career-relevant knowledge and skills, while making college affordable. Routinely ranked among the nation’s top military and accessible institutions, the University serves residential students at its main campus in Bellevue, Nebraska, and everywhere online with more than 85 degree programs uniquely designed for working adults. The University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org).