More than 500 pounds of food and necessity items were donated to the Campus Cabinet food pantry recently after a drive at three Share campus locations. Pictured are Heather Vaughan, Kristi Moorman and Joni Welch.
Alva’s Share Medical Center, Share Convalescent Home and The Homestead came together during the month of September to collect more than 500 pounds of non-perishable foods and necessity items for the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Campus Cabinet food pantry.
After the donations from employees at all three sites and a few residents of The Homestead were delivered to the pantry and weighed in, the drive netted 517 pounds to benefit the students and employees at the university who need the assistance of the food pantry.
Heather Vaughan, controller and director of patient accounts at Share Medical Center who helped in organizing this drive, gave credit for the idea to Joni Welch, an Alva junior majoring in nursing at Northwestern who works at the hospital. Vaughan said Welch suggested the idea to their Morale Booster Team.
Vaughan said this team does numerous things throughout the year to show appreciation to others.
“Our Morale Booster Team is a volunteer group of employees who plan and organize events throughout the year to show appreciation and encourage camaraderie for our employees,” she said. “It could be a small event such as a pot luck lunch or ice cream sundae party, or a larger event such as National Healthcare Week celebration that involves a treat every day for a full week.”
For September, the group decided it wanted to give back to Northwestern.
“Our staff agrees it’s easy to forget how blessed we are,” Vaughan said. “Giving to the Campus Cabinet is a great way for our employees to give back, in whatever manner best suits their situation. We had some employees donate a few items and other employees spent close to $100 each.
“The students and staff at Northwestern play a very large part in the success of our organization, and we want to support the campus in any way we can. This was a great opportunity for our employees to give back to an institution that does so much for us.”
Vaughan also said that they would definitely like to have another drive especially because it was suggested by one of their employees.
Angelia Case, academic projects assistant/media specialist and coordinator of the Campus Cabinet, said she is thankful for such a successful drive for the food pantry and happy that Welch shared the idea with the group at Share.
“Thanks go to those at all three locations who participated in this drive and a special thanks to Joni who brought the need to their attention,” Case said. “Joni has started volunteering at the food pantry when she can in between her responsibilities at work and with nursing school, and we so appreciate that. In fact, Joni and the student nurses currently are working on a food drive of their own to benefit the pantry.”
Other individuals or organizations, on- or off-campus, who might be interested in having a drive for non-perishable foods, personal hygiene or bedding items, or are interested in making tax-exempt monetary donations, should contact Case at (580) 327-8577 or arcase@nwosu.edu.
Additional information about the pantry can be found online at www.www.nwosu.edu/campus-cabinet.
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