RWJ University Hospital Rahway Backpacks for Students
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway employees shopped, purchased, stuffed and delivered more than 170 backpacks with notebooks, pens, and other school supplies for Rahway Food for Friends food pantry clients.
The back to school effort got all hospital departments and, in some cases, employees’ families involved, as the children of some employees used money they saved from chores or birthdays to help purchase school supplies for local children. The children of Pharmacy Director Sheetal Patel even got a matching grant from their grandmother to purchase items for 24 backpacks.
“We committed to ten,” said Patel, “but with the matching grant, we were able to do 24.” Included in the packs were small toys and handwritten notes, wishing the kids a good school year.
The hospital’s Emergency Department pooled money and purchased 100 backpacks, supplies, as well as two dozen scientific calculators for high school students. “It was a rough school year last year and we wanted kids to know that we care and want them to have a great school year this year,” said Emergency Department Associate Chair Dr. Lauren Trattner, who along with Nurse Manager Kristy O’Connor organized the drive and a backpack stuffing party.
Food Pantry clients were happy to receive the backpacks. “This was awesome,” said Rahway Food for Friends CEO Candance Ashe.
