By Lauren Hollon Sturdy
Buckner International

Nursing students from Texas Women’s University and members of the Dallas Cake Club spread Christmas cheer yesterday at three Buckner afterschool programs in the Dallas area.

The Dallas Cake Club provided festive, fondant-covered confections to the Hillburn Hills, Simari Ridge and Wynnewood community resource centers, while the TWU nursing school brought wrapped boxes filled with gifts that nursing students had collected for each child.

“I really hope that the kids just know there are people out there who love them and care for them that are not in their everyday life,” said Chelsea Moran, a junior in the nursing program and a member of First Baptist Church of Euless.

The children’s faces lit up to open their boxes and see new school supplies, jewelry making kits, action figures, kites, new socks, toiletries and other gifts.

“The kids responded well to the group, and they were very excited to get gifts,” said Carter Shephard, community resource coordinator at Simari Ridge. “The nursing students made the kids feel that they care about them, support them and wanted them to have a great Christmas.”

The nurses-in-training encouraged students to pursue education and achieve their dreams. They also answered questions about what it’s like to work in nursing. The kids were especially intrigued to learn that nursing students got to help in the delivery room.

[caption id="attachment_4627" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="The Dallas Cake Club provided holiday-themed cakes for the Christmas parties on Dec. 5."][/caption]

“One of our primary goals is to use these experiences to show a compassionate side of nursing to students,” said Myke Knapp, president of the TWU Nursing Student Association. “Another goal is to be role models and demonstrate how an education can take you beyond what you have come to know as your destiny.”

This is the second event the TWU Nursing Student Association has done for the children in Buckner afterschool programs. Earlier this year, they collected 250 pounds of candy and 2,300 plastic eggs to organize an Easter egg hunt for the kids.