Fresno State nursing students and the local California Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA) chapter rallied together to aid Oklahoma after last week’s devastating tornado. The chapter, led by advisor and faculty instructor Dr. Mary Ann McCarthy, is collaborating with the American Red Cross to raise funds for the victims.

Since the tornado, Debby Dailey, a nurse and disaster relief coordinator for the Red Cross, has led the charge to get Fresno State nursing students involved in relief efforts. On May 21, the Red Cross and KMJ radio (AM 580) promoted an event in which nursing students collected funds on a northwest Fresno street corner. Three days later, nine students volunteered to answer telephones during a telethon organized by CBS47 and the Red Cross that raised $16,500.This past weekend students were at River Park Shopping Center for another fund drive.

Soon, these students will also be eligible to travel to disaster areas and provide hands-on assistance.

Last year, the CNSA state chapter and the Red Cross facilitated the first-ever disaster preparedness training for 82 nursing students from Fresno State and Fresno City College. A second phase of disaster training is scheduled in June at Fresno State, and will allow the students to travel outside of California to effected regions to provide nursing care and support.

“The caring nature and leadership of our nursing students is not surprising,” Dr. McCarthy said. “This is just one of many examples of how our nursing family comes together to support each other and those in need.”

The Red Cross is currently seeking more volunteers, including past and present Fresno State nursing students. For more information on how to help, contact Drew Rosado at drewrosado@mail.fresnostate.edu or Aimee Ponomarenko at aimeejoy@mail.fresnostate.edu or 559.779.6865.

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