Going Beyond Self as a Team – Our Give Back Day

One of our values is Beyond Self. It is a simple collection of two words meaning something very powerful—something we collectively define as “a meaning to selflessly serve others.” As an organization, it is important to us to find ways to reach others in a positive manner to the point when an appreciative, endearing smile goes beyond a thank you. We actively unite together twice a year to make a difference during our Give Back Days.

The College’s Give Back Day initiative commenced in 2013 when employees banded together with the goodwill of showing the power a group of individuals can have on the community. Past Give Back Days have included delivering 100 sack lunches to the St. Anne’s Center, helping the Boys and Girls Club of Ogden move, donating an iced-themed tree to the Festival of Trees organization, and remodeling the interior room of the OWCAP/Head Start building.

Give Back Day has become a standard biannual tradition of the College that allows employees to exemplify compassion and the value of Beyond Self—characteristics the College encourages its nursing students and employees to embody.

On Wednesday, August 17th, we came together to donate food and supplies to the Lantern House in Ogden, Utah. The Lantern House, formerly known as St. Anne’s Center, serves community members who are less fortunate find a place of refuge that also provides food and shelter. Serving men, women, and families, the Lantern House opens its doors to assist its residents more forward towards a better life. The organization works closely with each resident to support them in finding employment and establish residence. Additionally, the Lantern House’s soup kitchen feeds upward of 300 hungry individuals a day who travel as far as Logan to the north and Bountiful in the south. The volunteers and staff at the organization rely strictly on food donations to feed each person that comes through the door. Nightingale College donated a variety of foods that will assist with feeding the large quantity of people.

We are grateful to have the opportunity to work again with such an amazing organization whose mission is to go beyond self and be a helping hand to those in need. It is a constant reminder that there are many chances for each of us to volunteer and help another.

Our College President and CEO, Mikhail Shneyder, shares what it means to give back, “Give Back Day is about people coming together and doing something good. It’s the power of the community when we help others without expecting anything in return that the world becomes a little bit better through this labor of love.”

The Lantern House is constantly looking for volunteers to join their efforts and for people to donate much needed items. For those interested, visit their website by clicking here.

We are excited to have captured our time at the Lantern House. Head on over to our Facebook page to check out our adventure.