UPB's SNO Donates Presents

Charlotte Beimel, a freshman nursing student from St. Marys wraps gifts for area children and senior citizens.
(Photo Courtesy of Pitt-Bradford)

University of Pittsburgh at Bradford nursing students have enjoyed giving $750 in gifts to area seniors and children this holiday season, including new games for the residents of Chapel Ridge in Bradford and presents for needy children, seniors and adults.

Members of the Student Nurse Organization raised money this fall by selling candles. As part of Pitt-Bradford’s Make a Difference Day activities in October, members visited Chapel Ridge to play games with residents and were surprised to find few choices.

Since they had enjoyed playing games with the residents, they used $250 of their earnings to purchase games for Chapel Ridge and wrapped them and delivered them for opening on Christmas morning.

“We here at Chapel Ridge were just so pleased that the Student Nurse Organization remembered us at this holiday time,” said Greg Ulyan, administrator. “When the students came in with those gifts, everybody’s eyes were just popping. The whole tree’s just full.”

Ulyan said the games will be well-used with the residents, and that they are looking forward to the student nurses returning to play games with them.

Members also chose to spend $500 filling gift wishes for children, adults and seniors listed on various tag trees in Bradford, Kane and St. Marys. Members also shopped for, wrapped and delivered these gifts to the ELF (Era’s Less Fortunate) Fund, Salvation Army, YWCA and various churches.

Earlier in the semester, the Student Nurse Organization held a Thanksgiving food drive to benefit The Friendship Table, St. Bernard Parish and the YWCA food pantry.

The organization is planning events for the spring, including a “SNO-ball” at the Bradford Nursing Pavilion in February.