Never Ever Give Up- NEGU The Jessie Rees Foundation
At our annual convention this past October, GANS members participated in a Toy Drive to benefit the Jessie Rees Foundation. Students from across the state brought in a variety of toys to put into jars known as Jessie’s JoyJars to send to children suffering from life altering medical illnesses.
The Jessie Rees Foundation was inspired by a courageous twelve year old girl who lost her life to two brain tumors last January. According to their website, Jessie wanted to spread her hope and love to other kids that might be feeling lonely with their cancer diagnosis, so she created JoyJars that are sent to over 200 Children’s Hospitals, 175 Ronald McDonald Houses, and 11 countries. Toys are contributed from people around the world to be put into these Joyjars to spread the message of compassion and hope. The mission of the foundation is based on Jessie’s personal motto of “Never Give Up”. This motto has been spread throughout many homes that are living with the same diagnosis the Rees family endured.
The Jessie Rees Foundation encourages children and families to never give up on their battles with cancer, while educating communities about pediatric cancer. Jessie’s father, Erik Rees travels to speak about his daughter and family's journey, and to help other children and families battling reach their goals and regain their strength. The Jessie Rees Foundation is a recognized 501(c)3 public charity with the purpose of spreading Jessie’s compassion and courage to those affected by cancer. A catch phrase associated with all those connected to Jessie and her dreams is “I NEGU, do YOU?”
The Jessie Rees Foundation was inspired by a courageous twelve year old girl who lost her life to two brain tumors last January. According to their website, Jessie wanted to spread her hope and love to other kids that might be feeling lonely with their cancer diagnosis, so she created JoyJars that are sent to over 200 Children’s Hospitals, 175 Ronald McDonald Houses, and 11 countries. Toys are contributed from people around the world to be put into these Joyjars to spread the message of compassion and hope. The mission of the foundation is based on Jessie’s personal motto of “Never Give Up”. This motto has been spread throughout many homes that are living with the same diagnosis the Rees family endured.
The Jessie Rees Foundation encourages children and families to never give up on their battles with cancer, while educating communities about pediatric cancer. Jessie’s father, Erik Rees travels to speak about his daughter and family's journey, and to help other children and families battling reach their goals and regain their strength. The Jessie Rees Foundation is a recognized 501(c)3 public charity with the purpose of spreading Jessie’s compassion and courage to those affected by cancer. A catch phrase associated with all those connected to Jessie and her dreams is “I NEGU, do YOU?”
Community Health Update
Inner Harbour Christmas Party
December 2012
The GANS BOARD cherishes this annual opportunity to host a Christmas party for the incredible kids at
Inner Harbour Youth Villages, in Douglasville, Ga.
Inner Harbour offers a residential setting for the treatment and gentle care of seriously troubled children. The beautiful, peaceful, wooded setting offers an experiential therapeutic environment.
Many of the residents cannot have a "home" Christmas,
so we bring Christmas to them! Face painting, stocking decoration, tree trimming, toys and games make the day special each year. Music and dancing add to the festivities.
This year we were treated to a djembe performance!
These children touched our hearts, and we are so honored to spend the day with them.
Pictured left to right: (back) Alex Nash, Kaitlin Chance, Alyssa Nadji, Branton Treglown, Ravi Batra, Chelsea Sawyer, Laura Bostwick, Christian Jiminez
(front) Tara Davis, Katie Thornton, Lindsay McKnight, Heather Sumner, Winnie Li, Jamie Allen
The GANS BOARD cherishes this annual opportunity to host a Christmas party for the incredible kids at
Inner Harbour Youth Villages, in Douglasville, Ga.
Inner Harbour offers a residential setting for the treatment and gentle care of seriously troubled children. The beautiful, peaceful, wooded setting offers an experiential therapeutic environment.
Many of the residents cannot have a "home" Christmas,
so we bring Christmas to them! Face painting, stocking decoration, tree trimming, toys and games make the day special each year. Music and dancing add to the festivities.
This year we were treated to a djembe performance!
These children touched our hearts, and we are so honored to spend the day with them.
Pictured left to right: (back) Alex Nash, Kaitlin Chance, Alyssa Nadji, Branton Treglown, Ravi Batra, Chelsea Sawyer, Laura Bostwick, Christian Jiminez
(front) Tara Davis, Katie Thornton, Lindsay McKnight, Heather Sumner, Winnie Li, Jamie Allen
Community Service Recap
Council of Student Leaders Event
At the GANS Council of Student Leaders (COSL) in Covington this past May, nursing students from around the state came together to complete two community health projects, first aid kits for the Atlanta Mission and hygiene kits for the migrant farm workers in Moultrie, Georgia.
First Aid Kits for the Atlanta Mission
The Atlanta Mission is an organization dedicated to serving the homeless community. Because of the large amount of donations GANS received from local businesses, we were able to not only complete our goal of 60 first aid kits, but we were also able to donate extra medical supplies. Thank you to all the participants for coming together and building these kits as a team. A special thank you to Kroger and Target for donating extra supplies!
Hygiene Kits for the Migrant Farm Workers in Moultrie, GA
Migrant farm workers contribute greatly to Georgia’s agricultural industry and handpick the majority of the fruits and vegetables we buy in grocery stores. There are over 100,000 migrant and seasonal farm workers in Moultrie, Georgia. With the help of nursing students across Georgia, GANS was able collect over 200 hygiene kits consisting of washcloths, soap, razors, shaving cream, shampoo, socks, flip flops and Gold Bond foot powder for the population. A special thanks to all the school for their contributions! Your collaboration with GANS helped us to provide underprivileged communities with much needed healthcare supplies. Thank you!
Council of Student Leaders Event
At the GANS Council of Student Leaders (COSL) in Covington this past May, nursing students from around the state came together to complete two community health projects, first aid kits for the Atlanta Mission and hygiene kits for the migrant farm workers in Moultrie, Georgia.
First Aid Kits for the Atlanta Mission
The Atlanta Mission is an organization dedicated to serving the homeless community. Because of the large amount of donations GANS received from local businesses, we were able to not only complete our goal of 60 first aid kits, but we were also able to donate extra medical supplies. Thank you to all the participants for coming together and building these kits as a team. A special thank you to Kroger and Target for donating extra supplies!
Hygiene Kits for the Migrant Farm Workers in Moultrie, GA
Migrant farm workers contribute greatly to Georgia’s agricultural industry and handpick the majority of the fruits and vegetables we buy in grocery stores. There are over 100,000 migrant and seasonal farm workers in Moultrie, Georgia. With the help of nursing students across Georgia, GANS was able collect over 200 hygiene kits consisting of washcloths, soap, razors, shaving cream, shampoo, socks, flip flops and Gold Bond foot powder for the population. A special thanks to all the school for their contributions! Your collaboration with GANS helped us to provide underprivileged communities with much needed healthcare supplies. Thank you!
Previous Community Health Events
Devereux Treatment Center Easter Egg Hunt
On March 31, 2012 GANS organized a very exciting Easter egg hunt for the children at Devereux in Kennesaw, GA. Devereux Georgia is a licensed treatment facility for children who are experiencing behavioral and emotional challenges as a result of abuse, neglect, mental illness, sexual exploitation, or intellectual developmental disabilities. This facility is dedicated to helping children up to the age of 21.
During the day, 30 children were able to engage in fun Easter activities. Each child had the opportunity to decorate his or her very own bags for the Easter egg hunt. Afterwards, all of the children were brought outside to begin the adventure of searching for the over 200 hand decorated hard-boiled eggs. After the children found all of the eggs they were given stuffed bags full of Easter candy and chocolate.
GANS would like to thank Devereux Georgia for allowing our board the opportunity to work with such remarkable children.
http://www.devereux.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ga_index
During the day, 30 children were able to engage in fun Easter activities. Each child had the opportunity to decorate his or her very own bags for the Easter egg hunt. Afterwards, all of the children were brought outside to begin the adventure of searching for the over 200 hand decorated hard-boiled eggs. After the children found all of the eggs they were given stuffed bags full of Easter candy and chocolate.
GANS would like to thank Devereux Georgia for allowing our board the opportunity to work with such remarkable children.
http://www.devereux.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ga_index
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
MUST Ministries
Volunteers are needed in Cherokee, Marietta, and Smyrna. Visit http://www.mustministries.org/ for more details.
Inner Harbour Youth Villages
Mentors and volunteers are needed at the Douglasville, GA campus. Contact Katrina Word at katrina.word@youthvillages.org for more details.
The Mad Housers
Help build temporary shelters for the homeless. To learn more, visit www.madhousers.org, or to sign up as a volunteer, send an email to madhousers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Act Together Ministries
Help make a difference in the lives of underprivileged children. Visit www.actogetherministries.org to sign up for volunteer opportunities.
Are you looking for a great volunteer opportunity in your area?
Visit www.volunteermatch.org to find opportunities that match your interests and location.
Cost-free Ways to Contribute to the Community
- Donate canned soda tabs to the Ronald McDonald House, and they will sell them to recycling companies for a profit. Visit http://www.armhc.org/recycling.html for more info.
- Take the FreeRice quiz at www.freerice.com. For each question you answer correctly, they donate rice to the UN World Food Program.
- Lobby for increased cigarette taxes in Georgia. Increased tax revenue will be used to fund tobacco prevention programs. Visit http://www.stateoftobaccocontrol.org/take-action/ for more details.
- Refer cancer patients to Cleaning for a Reason. Patients can receive complimentary housekeeping services once per month for up to four months during the course of medical treatment. Visit http://cleaningforareason.org/ for more details.
- Visit http://www.myfreerxcard.com/specialolympicsga.html to print out a free prescription drugs savings card through Special Olympics Georgia. Each time you use this discount card for a prescription, Special Olympics will receive a donation from AME Benefits. This card cannot be used in combination with insurance.
Volunteers are needed in Cherokee, Marietta, and Smyrna. Visit http://www.mustministries.org/ for more details.
Inner Harbour Youth Villages
Mentors and volunteers are needed at the Douglasville, GA campus. Contact Katrina Word at katrina.word@youthvillages.org for more details.
The Mad Housers
Help build temporary shelters for the homeless. To learn more, visit www.madhousers.org, or to sign up as a volunteer, send an email to madhousers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Act Together Ministries
Help make a difference in the lives of underprivileged children. Visit www.actogetherministries.org to sign up for volunteer opportunities.
Are you looking for a great volunteer opportunity in your area?
Visit www.volunteermatch.org to find opportunities that match your interests and location.
Cost-free Ways to Contribute to the Community
- Donate canned soda tabs to the Ronald McDonald House, and they will sell them to recycling companies for a profit. Visit http://www.armhc.org/recycling.html for more info.
- Take the FreeRice quiz at www.freerice.com. For each question you answer correctly, they donate rice to the UN World Food Program.
- Lobby for increased cigarette taxes in Georgia. Increased tax revenue will be used to fund tobacco prevention programs. Visit http://www.stateoftobaccocontrol.org/take-action/ for more details.
- Refer cancer patients to Cleaning for a Reason. Patients can receive complimentary housekeeping services once per month for up to four months during the course of medical treatment. Visit http://cleaningforareason.org/ for more details.
- Visit http://www.myfreerxcard.com/specialolympicsga.html to print out a free prescription drugs savings card through Special Olympics Georgia. Each time you use this discount card for a prescription, Special Olympics will receive a donation from AME Benefits. This card cannot be used in combination with insurance.
