Student Nurses at Lewis University Call the Shots for Children

The Student Nursing Association (SNA) and student nurses at Lewis University in Romeoville are calling all the shots for children and teens fighting cancer. The SNA and student nurses at Lewis University hosted a spring toy and gift card drive to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF).

Lewis’ Student Nursing Association is open to all nursing students. The association regularly hosts community public health initiatives, such as blood drives. SNA also participates in conventions and organizations for professional networking opportunities. That is exactly what the members of the Student Nursing Association did when they recently hosted a spring toy and gift card drive collecting $100 in gift cards, gifts for teens and 100’s of toys and volunteered to label and categorize the toys to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF). The toys and gift cards will comfort children fighting cancer across the nation.

Student Nursing Association Member and toy drive chairwoman Elena Burgess said, “The Lewis University Student Nursing Association strives to help others. Finding the Treasure Chest was an amazing opportunity that we could contribute.” Student Nurse and co-chairwoman Kelly O'Malley added, “Children bring joy to people’s lives and we wanted to bring joy to their lives.” Student Nurse Jill Albia chimed in, “It was great to bring joy during these hard times.” Ms. Kisel, Founder of the Treasure Chest Foundation said, “The POTCF is especially grateful to Lewis University Student Nursing Association members for their enormous donation of toys and gift cards. We are blessed to have the support of the Romeoville Lewis University students and Student Nursing Association.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 14,600 young cancer patients in 62 cancer treatment centers in 20 states across the nation and in the District of Columbia. Nowhere else in the nation does such a program exist. Colleen Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. Ms. Kisel discovered that giving her son a toy after each procedure provided a calming distraction from his pain, noting that when children are diagnosed with cancer their world soon becomes filled with doctors, nurses, chemotherapy drugs, surgeries and seemingly endless painful procedures. Martin celebrated his 28th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of this year.

If you would like further information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, please contact Colleen Kisel at 708-687-TOYS (8697) or visit the Foundation’s website at www.treasurechest.org