Roane State Community College

August 18, 2021

A Loudon County resale store has once again awarded a $5,000 grant to help provide scholarships to Loudon County adults enrolled in Roane State.

The grant will fund scholarships for students from Loudon County who are age 20 and older.

“In recent academic years, a significant need has been assistance to economically disadvantaged, non-traditional adult students that do not have the funds to pay for parts of their college education not covered by state and federal grants,” according to the community college’s grant application.

It’s estimated the grant will fund the equivalent of 10 scholarships at $500 each in the current academic year.

“Our goal is to give back to the community,” said Good Neighbors Shoppe President Nancy Bollinger. Members of the nonprofit’s board of directors annually determine funding levels.

The store hopes to distribute more than $690,000 this year to a wide assortment of deserving organizations, including schools and centers dealing with child abuse and domestic violence.

“How blessed we have been in donations and customers, and in our 230 volunteers who work really hard,” Bollinger said. The nonprofit retail store is located at 420 Leeper Parkway in Lenoir City.

Roane State Foundation officials say helping economically disadvantaged adults is a need in Loudon County, one of the state’s fastest-growing counties.

The Roane State Foundation is a separate 501(c)(3) corporation governed by an independent board of directors and established to provide financial support for Roane State students and programs. The Foundation seeks to enhance community awareness of the college, to secure private contributions and bequests and to manage monies or properties given to the Foundation. For more information, visit www.roanestate.edu/foundation or email Foundationdept@roanestate.edu.