College of Rehabilitation Sciences students Hanna Kilas and Sara DePottie are collecting donations for Winnipeg Harvest
Students counting on U of M generosity for the holidays
Donation drives are taking place across campus
It’s the season of giving, and Rady Faculty of Health Sciences students are working to make the holidays special for all through their generosity.
Over the next few weeks, there are a number of initiatives across both campuses -spearheaded by students- to give back to the community.
Students in the Nursing Students’ Association (NSA) are getting in the holiday spirit with a desire to ‘Be a Santa to Senior’. Working together with Home Instead Senior Care, nursing students are accepting donations that will make a difference in the life of an impoverished or isolated senior citizen. Items in particular demand are Boost and Ensure nutritional supplements. Gifts can be dropped off at the NSA general office at 221 Helen Glass Centre for Nursing.
“The NSA is always looking for ways to be involved in our communities,” said Darcy Gosek, the NSA charitable and health promotion chair. “It’s so important for our students to connect to the various patient populations that we will be working with in our future careers and to have an understanding of the resources that are available to them. ‘Be a Santa to a Senior’ is a great example of one of these resources. It really makes the holiday season special for older adults who don’t necessarily have friends or family to celebrate with.”
At Bannatyne campus, the College of Rehabilitation Sciences Students’ Association is collecting non-perishable food items for Winnipeg Harvest until December 15.
“Winnipeg Harvest is a major organization that helps the community but they also share a lot of food with other organizations and soup kitchens within the city,” said Hanna Kilas, a second year respiratory therapy student. “We thought that by helping Winnipeg Harvest we’re not only helping a small community we’re helping a whole city with other organizations being reached out to in this way.”
Items can be dropped off at Room 106, the College of Rehabilitation Sciences’ main office.
In the Max Rady College of Medicine, the Indigenous Health Promotion Group is collecting toys for students at Niji Mahkwa elementary school, located nearby. New, unopened toys valued at $20 or less can be dropped off at 260 Brodie or at S206 Medical Services Building. Cash donations can also be made online. This year’s goal is to ensure there are toys for all 380 students at Niji Mahkwa. The deadline for donations is December 13, 2017.
The University of Manitoba Student Union (UMSU) Holiday Hamper and Toy Drive is in full swing with a goal to deliver 150 hampers! UMSU is urging faculty, staff and students to adopt, sponsor or donate a hamper with all donations going to U of M students and their families. Donation boxes are set up in the UMSU office at 101 University Centre on the Fort Garry campus.
Services for Students at Bannatyne campus is collecting non-perishable food donations for the U of M food bank for the holiday season. There is a drop off box outside the Student Services office at S211 in the Medical Services Building. Most wanted food items include canned fish or poultry; canned fruit or vegetables; canned beans; rice; canned pasta sauce; instant oatmeal; Kraft dinner and soup.
Marshall Wiebe