Many holiday traditions may be disrupted this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the generous spirit of the Winona State University community will continue to improve our world throughout the season and beyond.
Every holiday season the Department of Graduate Nursing collects donations of food and clothing for local service organizations. This year, arranging to collect and deliver physical donations would pose barriers to allowing participation from our entire campus.
To overcome these obstacles our students and faculty have worked together to find creative and inclusive solutions to move forward with learning and service opportunities.
Natalie Bauman, a graduate nursing student at WSU, was inspired to help continue the department’s tradition of holiday giving that allowed everyone to safely participate.
Bauman created a virtual fund drive to raise money for the Second Harvest Heartland, the Upper Midwest’s largest hunger-relief organization.
“Our community’s working families, children and seniors are in need like never before,” she explains. “Visits to the food shelves, soup kitchens and shelters that make up the distribution network for Second Harvest Heartland have doubled in just the past five years. The rising need means that food & fund drives are more important than ever.”
Those willing and able to contribute to this virtual fund drive can feel good knowing that every five dollars raised will allow Second Harvest Heartland to deliver 15 meals to hungry neighbors in the region.
“Our community’s working families, children and seniors are in need like never before,” she explains. “Visits to the food shelves, soup kitchens and shelters that make up the distribution network for Second Harvest Heartland have doubled in just the past five years. The rising need means that food & fund drives are more important than ever.”
Join our Virtual Drive
Please consider donating to the Second Harvest Heartland to help secure food for Minnesotans.
One in eight people – including one in five kids – living in Minnesota and western Wisconsin do not know where their next meal is coming from.
Within the last year, 63% of Second Harvest Heartland clients have been forced to choose between paying for housing or food. 67% of clients have had to choose between paying for medication or food.
Your support helps connect our neighbors to the food they need to thrive.
