OSWEGO, NY – “We are seeing more need every year, but the response has been tremendous,” said School Nurse Team Leader Christina Chamberlain as the Oswego High School and outside organizations and individuals once again rallied to support students and families in need.
The “response’ has been sensational this year at OHS as 25 families are being served through efforts that were coordinated by the School Health Office, but were supported by numerous groups, clubs and individuals.
Chamberlain noted, “We start organizing this list in September. A list of families is put together and every year the needs get bigger and we do as many as we can. Teachers, counselors and others as well as the health office staff help organize the list.”
Continuing she noted, “There are a couple of lists in the school and we try to take care of everybody.”
Once again everyone rallied around the effort to assist just more than two dozen families and more than 200 students.
Chamberlain explained, “The nurses are heavily involved and coordinate this as we know the students and have close relationships with many of them.”
Donations cover a wide range of giving. Chamberlain said, “Wal-Mart supports the schools while we seek an Entergy grant each year. Some organizations provide us with donations each year while the donations from our staff are unbelievable.”
Just six days before Christmas nearly half of the floor in the OHS nurse’s office is covered with donations including food, blankets, coats, toys and numerous other items.
Chamberlain said, “This year the faculty and staff have gone above and beyond in supporting this. There are gift cards, hair cut gift cards, food cards as well as full dinners being supplied by groups, husbands and wives as well as individuals.”
Among the donations this year are one hundred $30 gift cards; Entergy donation of $650 and Wal-Mart $500 donations to purchase pajamas, hoodies, boots, hats and mittens. There was a generous donation from People Against Poverty to supplement food baskets, clothes, gift cards for Subway, haircut cards, and individualized family gifts.
A donation from the Children’s Board also went to supplement the food baskets while the Newman Center donated clothes, gift cards for Subway and haircuts and family gifts.
The Oswego High School staff and faculty, the Hibernians and individuals supplied full holiday meal baskets to 25 families.
Chamberlain noted, “These baskets include food for the week the students will be off from school.”
Chamberlain explained, “We feel this is very important and once again everyone has rallied around students and their families who are need at this holiday season.”
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