The West Virginia Wesleyan College School of Nursing is partnering with the Upshur County Board of Education to provide hygiene items and shoes to students.
Anthony McDaniels, director of child nutrition and wellness for the Upshur County Board of Education, attended the Oct. 23 Upshur County Commission meeting to announce the new partnership.
“This collaboration came about through a shared desire to support students in our community, while also providing meaningful, hands-on experience for future healthcare professionals,” McDaniels said. “The nursing students are involved in a course titled ‘community nursing and population health.’ One of their core requirements for this course is that each student completes 90 hours of community service, and these hours are designed not just to fulfill a graduation requirement but also to provide real-world learning experiences that benefit both the students and the community they serve.”
Each donation drive will include 10 nursing students.
“We are currently running a hygiene drive, collecting essential hygiene products for students throughout the district and addressing a vital and often overlooked aspect of student well-being, and a shoe drive specifically aimed at providing quality shoes for middle school students,” McDaniels said. “This age group is growing rapidly, and often they’re overlooked in general clothing drives, so the shoes will be collected and distributed directly to students identified by our counselors, our administration and our Community in School representatives.”
McDaniels said he hopes the drives will also build new connections between the Upshur County Board of Education and West Virginia Wesleyan College.
“This partnership does more than just gather supplies; it builds bridges for West Virginia Wesleyan, it encourages engagement directly with the community. They may one day serve as healthcare providers for our public-school students,” McDaniels said. “It’s a reminder their community sees them, cares for them, and invests in their well-being, body, mind and spirit.”
McDaniels hopes this program will be expanded in the future.
“We are incredibly hopeful this collaboration between West Virginia Wesleyan College School of Nursing and the Upshur County Board of Education will not just continue, but expand in years to come. We see potential for additional health-related outreach, educational events on nutrition and wellness and ongoing support that addresses barriers for student success,” McDaniels said. “I want to thank West Virginia Wesleyan College, the nursing students, and their faculty for their commitment and service to the community. And thank you, commissioners, for your ongoing support for partnerships like this, ones that make a tangible difference in the lives of Upshur County’s residents.”
Upshur County Commissioner Kristie Tenney said she would like to have a box for donations at the courthouse. Commissioners Sam Nolte and Doug Bush agreed.
