This week’s guest blog post by “The School Nurse,” Elisabeth Barclay, is a bit of normalcy in a COVID world. There are supportive parent organizations all over the country that support school nurses who are caring for our nation’s children. Moms Who Care (MWC) is one example of an organization that provides clothing and supplies to Elisabeth’s school community. It feels good to share a positive story, a breath of fresh air, as we approach the beginning of a very uncertain school year. Thank you Elisabeth for sharing this wonderful resource and congratulations on the work that you do for the school nursing community.
Are you a school nurse who collects stacks of clothes in your office cabinet “just in case”?
Are you a school nurse who keeps a hidden stash of school supplies for students who need them? Are you a school nurse who keeps snacks for certain students you know will be hungry later in the day? Are you a school nurse who desperately wants to help more students meet their essential needs, but feel like you don’t have enough time in the day?
Then, one crisp fall day in 2009, the future founder of Moms Who Care (MWC)
worked up some courage, called the high school, and asked if there was a staff member who would be interested in receiving gift bags full of hygiene products for students in need?
Thankfully, whoever answered the phone that day transferred the call directly to the school nurse’s office! Little did the caller know, the service she offered was highly needed and we immediately took her up on the generous offer; and so, our village started!
with curtains hanging on tension rods covering shelves overflowing with clothes, shoes, socks, hygiene products & a few snacks for students who would need them.
The School Nurse has a committed group of volunteers with the MWC organization who have a large room in the school (with windows) full of clothing displayed on department store style fixtures, and custom shelving units with shoes, hygiene products, snacks, and school supplies! There is also a separate storage room for off-season supplies with an area to sort through donations and organize items.
All donations are graciously given by generous community members! To say the school nurse’s students are blessed is an understatement.
To help students achieve success by meeting essential needs such as:
clothing, hygiene products, school supplies, and after school snacks.
The MWC volunteers understand when the basic needs of the student are met,
then the students are more prepared and ready to learn.
For many years this program has functioned smoothly while students
attended a traditional in-person school. Currently, there is new energy felt as we creatively come up with ways to continue the MWC program while our students are learning remotely. Needless to say, the MWC volunteers and school liaisons are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue to serve our students during this difficult and challenging time.
While the mission of Moms Who Care is to help students achieve success by meeting essential needs such as clothing, hygiene products, school supplies, and after school snack we know they do so much more for the students too- more than written words can describe!
For More Information Visit the MWC Website here
To Purchase Items & Send Directly to MWC click here
Robin you find the fantastic people in the universe! Keep it up! School Nurses are the most remarkable people in the world if you ask me!
Cathy