OUZ Nursing Students Collect Blankets to Keep Community Warm

ZANESVILLE, OH – It’s once again time to help warm the community, as well as some friendly competition between the Ohio University Zanesville Nursing Students.

OUZ Nursing Students are once again hosting the Good Samaritan Blanket Drive from now until the end of November.

Teresa Polen, an Assistant Professor of Instruction in Nursing at OUZ, says they are continuing the legacy started by Nurses from the Good Samaritan Hospital, while having some fun along the way.

“The Good Samaritan Nurses adopted that in about the late 90’s and we have taken a hold of that because it’s our turn.” Polen said. “Pass the torch and so we try to do that on the Zanesville Campus but throughout the community, they’re trying to collect blankets. These go back to the community but we’re sending those off to Eastside Community Ministry where they can distribute accordingly.”

The competition is to see which class can collect the most blankets between the 2-year Associate Degree program and the 4-year BSN program.

They are looking for blankets of all sizes and materials, but especially baby blankets. They could be new or used, but if they’re used they must be clean blankets.

There will be donation boxes located all across OUZ’s Campus but one of them can be found in Elson Hall and the other in Herrold Hall.

“I think this is a great thing, it is a needed thing, and I love that our students, we’re offering a friendly competition, of course, to keep them going but I love that we can help to give back.” Polen said. “As far as service, our student nurses, that is something that is part of what they should be involved with and carrying out that and continuing that legacy, continuing this tradition is a good thing.”

For more information on the Blanket Drive, you can reach out to Teresa Polen at polen1@ohio.edu.