For the past several months, College of Western Idaho’s Student Nurses Association (SNA) has been busy gathering backpacks full of supplies for children in foster care. At the beginning of Fall 2020 semester, each member of the group was challenged to grab a backpack and add items, such as personal toiletries, books, and socks, to the backpack each month.
The backpacks were originally set to be donated to Family Advocates in Boise. Due to an unexpected closure of the facility due to COVID-19, SNA members sought out an alternative. With the help of Health and Welfare, students were put in touch with a facility in desperate need of backpacks to distribute to foster families as well as other families in need.
On April 29, 2021, 33 fully-loaded backpacks, extra feminine hygiene products, and various school supplies collected by SNA were donated to the Nampa School District’s Family and Community Resource Center. The estimated value of the donations was around $3,300 or approximately $100 per backpack.
“This felt especially fitting as our program’s main campus is located in Canyon County,” said SNA Project Chair, Lizzie Glafke. “We truly were giving back to the community. Our hearts were so full after hearing how thankful the facility was as this area is one of the most underserved but in great need in Canyon County.”
Current SNA members plan to coordinate with the newly-appointed 2021-2022 SNA officers to encourage the continuation of this community outreach project on an annual basis.
