NP Students Make Season Bright for Area Families

Senior students in the Nurse Practitioner program at SUNY Polytechnic Institute helped make the holiday season bright for some local families in need, successfully completed fund raising efforts to benefit the Adopt a Family Program at Kids Oneida.

The students, who wanted to do something for the community for the holiday season, raised $700 to help 2 families afford gifts and other necessities for their children. A presentation of the gifts purchased with that money was held in the Multipurpose Room of the Student Center in Utica on Wednesday, December 9.

“The dedication these students have displayed is a wonderful example of our students’ sense of community. This is a truly heartwarming story of goodwill and is a testament to the social responsibility training our Nursing students receive from faculty members such as department chair Dr. Louise Dean-Kelly and program coordinator Dr. Jennifer Klimek-Yingling,” said Dr. Alain Kaloyeros, President and CEO of SUNY Polytechnic Institute. “We are extremely proud of our students and the assistance they are providing to area families.”

“The initiative and compassion shown by the students in our nursing program to reach out and help these families in a time of need is a wonderful example of the caliber of the entire SUNY Poly community,” said Dr. Louise Dean-Kelly, Chair of the Department of Nursing and Health Professions. “The drive our students have for helping their fellow human beings is the type of intangible quality one can’t assess through a test score, and we couldn’t be prouder.”

“The students in our Nurse Practitioner program saw a need within our community, and seized the opportunity to lend a hand. Their dedication and commitment is an inspiration to all of us,” said Dr. Jennifer Klimek-Yingling, Assistant Professor of Nursing and Nurse Practitioner Program Coordinator. “They truly exhibit the spirit and enterprising nature that makes a difference in the lives of others and assures us we are in good hands with the caretakers and healthcare providers of tomorrow.”

More than $700 was raised through monetary donations by the SUNY Poly Nurse Practitioner students, which was enough to not only purchase gifts for their adopted family through Kids Oneida, but to also assist another local family in need whose father died unexpectedly last Fall, leaving behind two children. The money raised was used to shop from a wish list, provided by the family, for items each child needs or wants. The gifts were then wrapped and tagged with the names of the children.

“When the seniors in the Nurse Practitioner program first decided to do something charitable for the holiday season, I thought at-risk children would be a great population to support, especially since this semester we have a pediatric rotation and have cared for at-risk children,” said Marian Thompson, the SUNY Poly Nurse Practitioner student leading the volunteer effort. “I presented the idea to our class and the decision was unanimous. Our Kids Oneida Family has six children, ages 2-17 and their wish lists contained six items apiece. I’m proud to say that our class was able to purchase every item on the list for each child.”

“We greatly appreciate the support given by the SUNY POLY Nursing Program to the Kids Oneida Adopt A Family Program this year. Through their generosity, a local family with six children will be provided with a joyous holiday season,” said Brandi Candido, Adopt a Family Chair. “The Nursing Program’s enthusiasm and compassion is contagious and it is inspiring to see local students supporting local children. It is with the generous support from area groups like SUNY POLY Nursing that Kids Oneida hopes to provide gifts for over 550 children this year.”

Kids Oneida is a not for profit organization that works with at risk youth and their families to keep them from out of home placements. The Adopt a Family program was started at Kids Oneida in 2001 as a way to provide some holiday cheer for the children and families they serve, matching donors with families in need. Donors can shop for the gifts or make a monetary donation and the Kids Oneida staff will do the shopping. All gifts stay right in the Mohawk Valley, supporting local children and families who need that little bit of extra help to make their holiday brighter.