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| First-year radiography students who helped their program collect the most items for SCC’s MANNA food drive recently include, front row, from left: Kevin Moore, Franklin; Clayton Gunter, Sylva; Jake McHan, Bryson City; and Remy Mitzrahi, Sylva. Second row: Sylvia Espinosa, Waynesville; Alex Bialek, Sylva; Amber Milner, Waynesville; Kristen Cope, Franklin; and Sarah Carpenter, Franklin. Third row: Leela Boatright, Franklin; Amy Trull, Murphy; Harleigh Parker, Murphy; Danielle Waldroop, Franklin; and Kristen Fletcher, Waynesville. |
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| Second-year radiography students and their instructors include, front row, from left: Ashley Chastain, Sylva; Nina Astling, Franklin; Crissy Royce, Hayesville; Natalie Dendy, Franklin; and Meg Petty, program coordinator, Franklin. Second row, from left: Katlin Foxworth, Sylva; Heather Nichols, Murphy; Kevin Cope, Franklin; Ashley Conner, Waynesville; Jessie Barker, Bryson City; Amanda Talley, Cashiers; and Kim Argo, clinical coordinator, Waynesville. |
In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, students in Southwestern Community College’s health sciences division collected 1,720 pounds of non-persishable items in an annual food drive for MANNA food bank.
Leading the way this year was SCC’s radiography program, which brought in 1,235 items.
Southwestern’s Nursing Club sponsors and organizes the drive each year. Amanda Allen, co-chair of the SCC Cares committee and the health sciences division’s administrative assistant, was impressed by the outpouring of donations.
“In our first years of holding this drive, classes would win by bringing in a couple-hundred items,” Allen said. “I am so proud of all our students for providing an incredible service to area children. MANNA told us our donations will fill over 500 MANNA packs.”
Based in Asheville, MANNA works with 248 partner agencies in 16 Western North Carolina counties. MANNA’s goal is ending hunger in the region – a message that resonates with the radiography students and clinical coordinator Kim Argo.
“I am a mother of three wonderful little boys; I don't have a lot of financial stability and I personally know what it’s like to go hungry,” said Amanda Talley, a second-year radiography student. “However, my children have not and as long as I am alive they will not experience hunger. I feel the same about other children and families. If I am in the position to help somebody in need I will. Giving food to families in need is just one way I chose to do that. Helping others fills my soul with happiness. Everybody hits the bottom sometimes and needs a little charity. As my mother always says, you have to crawl before you walk.”
Argo, who also co-chairs the SCC Cares committee, added: “The MANNA backpack program is important to us because it ensures that children have food to eat on the weekends, outside of school. I know it's hard to believe, but some children are only assured of the food they get at school, Monday through Friday. It really makes you stop and think about what's truly important and how we need to focus on the people right here in our community. I am very proud of the radiography students for their contributions to such a worthy cause.”
For more information about SCC Cares, visit www.southwesterncc.edu/scc-cares.
Southwestern, which WalletHub ranks among the Top 10 community colleges in the nation, serves Jackson, Macon, Swain Counties and the Qualla Boundary. To learn more about SCC’s health sciences division and all the college’s programs, visit www.southwesterncc.edu or call 828.339.4000.
