For close to 10 years, HUP’s Nursing Network Center has held successful back-to-school drives, helping families who can’t afford basic supplies … and this year’s proved to be the best yet! With NNC director Heather Ross, taking the lead, the Center collected over 100 book bags along with many boxes of crayons, pencils, and markers, binders and composition books… “The list goes on and on,” said Brenda Bradford, NNC lead payroll analyst. “We actually collected triple the amount from last year!” in addition to the nursing staff— “who are always so generous”— several departments helped boost this year’s “take.”
The NNC donated the items to both the Lutheran Settlement House, a nonprofit that strives to meet the evolving needs of its community, and Friends of West Mill Creek, which handed out the school supplies to students (K–12) during its community day.
The NNC worked with Richard Watson of Patient Transport for the West Mill Creek donation. “We wanted to ensure that the kids in the community had the proper tools to get the school year off to a great start,” said Watson, who created a mentor group – One Dream One Destiny – with three friends to help children in that area. “Countless times we see kids carrying books in their hands or in shopping bags. Some kids can’t do classwork or homework because they don’t have the supplies to complete projects. We just want to give these kids a chance, show them that someone cares and that yes, they are loved.”
More than 200 kids received backpacks and supplies at the Community Day, which also included several groups handing out information to benefit families in the area. At Penn Medicine’s table, staff provided a variety of preventive care information, focusing on conditions common in that community, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.