PAXTON  — Upholding the tradition of their future profession, members of the Student Nursing Association at Anna Maria College delivered comfort items to the less fortunate this holiday season. 

“As nurses, we have chosen a field focused on service – it’s in our nature,” said Tabitha Franceschet, the president of the college’s Student Nursing Association in a Dec. 16 release written by Maureen Halley. “We are fortunate to be part of a warm and supportive atmosphere here at Anna Maria – and it just makes you want to give back all the more.”

This year, members of the nursing faculty joined members of the nursing association to donate socks to Veteran’s Inc., a homeless shelter for veterans based in Worcester, and toiletries to Abby’s House. Abby’s House is an organization dedicated to providing shelter, affordable housing and support services to homeless, battered and low-income women. 

The toiletries were delivered in red gift bags complete with a personalized holiday greeting from the student nursing association. According to Karin Ciance, a professor of nursing at Anna Maria College, the donations to Abby’s House were increased to 60 bags this year because the organization has a new shelter that can house up to that many women. 

“Giving a donation to Abby’s house in Worcester has been a long-standing tradition since 2010. As one of the faculty advisors along with Marie Remillard and Danielle Shaver, we have tried to instill in the nursing students a sense of community and giving back and by showing a small act of kindness can go a long way,” said Ciance. Later adding, “Sometimes this is the only Christmas gift they receive on Christmas morning.”