Questar III Licensed Practical Nursing Program students Kelly Barris, Zara Rankell, Sarah Flagler
When a 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami recently devastated Japan, many people around the world felt compelled to help the victims. Among them were Questar III BOCES Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) students based at Hudson High School.
Donna Bellemare, one of the LPN instructors, said students immediately searched online and selected ShelterBox USA as their way to lend a helping hand to those in need.
Once they found the site, they presented it to the others who agreed to set up a link to funnel contributions,” she explained.
Bellemare said this student-driven effort will provide emergency shelters that can be tracked to the individuals who receive them. Each shelterbox can accommodate 10 people and includes a quality tent, a multi-fuel stove, sleeping bags, blankets, a water purification system, tools, rope, children’s school supplies, cooking pots and utensils.
“This is true, life-saving equipment, hand-delivered by volunteers trained in survival techniques,” she said. “Our goal is one shelterbox which costs $1000 including delivery. So far we’ve raised $377.”
Bellemare credits three students – Sarah Flagler, Kelly Barris and Zara Rankell – for starting and organizing this effort. She also noted that an 18 year old student from Taconic Hills High School, Veronica Vertiz, contributed by creating a poster display next to their goal marker.
Rankell said “We’re nurses. Our job is to help people not just where we live, but wherever we can across the world. One hand holds another; you can’t get there by yourself.”
Her colleague Flager said “When people go through a natural disaster they lose all their dignity. This shelterbox will give them back their dignity and the basics of a new home for six months.”
Flagler encouraged the public to support relief efforts. “Because some of us are members of Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA), a student leadership group for people in health care, they have pledged to help raise awareness of our fundraiser through their public outreach and will be encouraging donations at the HOSA Applebee’s Flapjack Breakfast in Hudson on April 9,” she said.
Bellemare who has taught for 15 years said this class is the first to get involved in global issues. “They not only see how such tragedies affect others, but also what they can do as individuals to help. I tell them the baby boomers are retiring. They have to carry on.”
We’re the future of nursing,” Barris agreed. “It’s up to us to change the world.”
Please visit www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/shelterbox for more information or to donate.
The LPN program, offered to adult and high school students, provides the hours of classroom theory and clinical experience required to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). Students learn and plan the implementation of quality nursing.
