The fourth floor of the Kimball tower was abuzz with students and alumni from the BYU College of Nursing putting diapers, toothpaste, socks, and even soccer balls into kits. Preparing these materials, however, has a much deeper purpose than meets the eye.
These supplies will be sent with the students on their Global & Population Health Nursing Clinical Practicums this coming spring and distributed to the people they will serve. The recipients live throughout the world: Zambia, Tonga, Ecuador, Czechia, and even in the local community.
This was the first year that the Alumni Board from BYU College of Nursing prepared an Amazon Wish List to gather the materials for the kits. Alumni could order any product on the list and have it sent to the college. This allowed more alumni than before to participate from wherever they reside. Many alumni left notes saying how grateful they were to donate and help those in need.
“As an alumni board this year, we're really trying to beef up our efforts,” said Tiffany Noss (BS ‘97), the Chapter Chair. “We're trying to be more active participants and so we just would encourage any alumni to participate in these activities.”
Another alumni board member, Tiffany Schwebach (BS ‘99), shared “I think it's just always good to give back to something that's given to me, [having been] a nursing student here. I got to go to Guatemala when I graduated. [W]e brought supplies down, and I saw how much it means to the people there. It's something that I've always wanted to do and give back.”
I would say that service is a big part of the Healer’s art and just remembering that it's less about the job and more about the people that we're serving,” said Bryce Lewis, a student in his fourth semester going to Ecuador.
“This is a really cool way to make the experience last longer, because we're thinking about the people we'll be helping,” said Emily Montague, another fourth semester nursing student going to Ecuador. “I think it's incredible that so many people are invested in these Global Health practicums, and that they've donated so much. The alumni are here helping and it’s a big, unified effort.”
“I've been doing this for 10 years,” said Tiffany Noss. “I just love the camaraderie. We have alumni here with students working hand in hand and for the same purpose. I think that's the goal of our alumni association: to try to connect and keep alumni connected to the College of Nursing and supporting the students.”