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MCC Nursing Students Brighten Holidays for Rochester Children (12/03/2019)

Note: This is an ARCHIVED news release. Information in this article may have changed since this was published.

MCC Student Nurses Association members present checkA week before Thanksgiving Day, MCC's Student Nurses Association members expressed their gratitude -- with acts of kindness -- to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Rochester for all that the organization does to create brighter futures for inner-city children.

SNA members donated almost $620 to fund 56 scholarships for Rochester children to attend the club's after-school program. Children at the club receive tutoring and help with their homework, participate in a reading program, attend STEM classes, and take part in sports and other recreational activities. Many of the children served by the club are inspired to become MCC students.

"It's rewarding to give back to the community and help kids," said Joshua Fox, co-president of SNA with Caroline Miller.

It is the second straight year the SNA has supported families at the club. MCC nursing students dedicate their time as volunteers in the after-school program and hold toy drives. Last year after seeing firsthand the club's positive impact on the community, Joshua was moved to buy eight frozen turkeys that he donated to families at the club.

"I want to show what a great community resource the Boys & Girls Clubs is," Caroline said.

"The majority of our kids, they're here at least 20 hours a week after school," Dwayne Mahoney, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs told WHAM-TV after the check presentation. "If they're not in school, they're here most of the day, so we know exactly what's going on with them. We try to help in areas that we can, even outside our regular club programming, and all that creates a family atmosphere."

The event culminated with a Thanksgiving feast, which SNA members helped serve to hundreds of families at the Boys & Girls Clubs.

"I'm grateful we had an opportunity to give back to a place that has given so much to me and done so much for kids," said Caroline, who worked at the club before coming to MCC in 2017 to pursue a nursing degree and career. "They gave me direction in my life and helped me realize what I want to do."

Photo caption: MCC's Student Nurses Association donated almost $620 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Rochester to fund 56 student scholarships. The event was followed by a Thanksgiving feast, which SNA members served to hundreds of families with the help of Vice President of Student Services Dr. Lloyd Holmes and MCC nursing faculty and staff.

Media Contact:
Hency Yuen-Eng
Government and Community Relations
585-292-3063
hyuen-eng@monroecc.edu