Giving Back to Those Who Need it Most: Keyser Campus senior organizes donation for Cancer Center

A WVU School of Nursing Keyser Campus senior recently organized a community service project to benefit the WVU Medicine Potomac Valley Cancer Center.

“For my remaining community service hours, I wanted to create a project to give back to those who need it most,” said Katelyn (Katie) Rexrode, a student in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. “My goal was to bring a smile to someone during their darkest times.”

Rexrode contacted the charge nurse at WVU Medicine Potomac Valley Cancer Center to learn how she could help. She discovered there was a great need for donations for their patients who are receiving chemo and infusions.

She spent the following weeks contacting local businesses to arrange designated drop-off locations for donations, including Chapstick, gum and mints, tissues, pens and notepads, books, crossword puzzles, cozy socks, blankets and more. She also created flyers and social media posts to spread the word. Rexrode then gathered the donations from each location and organized them by item type.

“The extra items make it possible for the staff to fill or make care packages, as their patient volume increases,” Rexrode said. “I am thankful for our community service requirement, because this effort has brought me so much joy.”

Dr. April Shapiro, Keyser Campus Chair, shared her pride at Rexrode’s work.

“We are so proud of her work on this endeavor and her commitment to make a difference in the lives of patients and staff of this new department,” Shapiro said. “What an impact this will have!”

-WVU-

CONTACT: Wendy Holdren
Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU School of Nursing
304-581-1772; wendy.holdren@hsc.wvu.edu