Written by Sophie Rossitto // Graphic by Wagner Valdez
A group of Harding students have planned to play the role of Easter Bunny for some local children this spring in order to raise money to attend a national convention.
Senior Sadie Nelson said members of the Harding Nursing Student Association (HNSA) have organized a fundraiser in which they offer to hide pre-filled Easter eggs in local residents’ yards the night before the holiday. Nelson said HNSA also did this event last year, and it was successful. Proceeds will benefit students who plan to go to the National Student Nurses’ Association Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, April 11-16, she said.
According to a poster from HNSA, people can fill out a Google form by 5 p.m. today, March 31, to pay for the egg-hiding service. Those who sign up can choose from four options, ranging from a cost of $20 for 25 eggs to $60 for 100 eggs.
Nelson said some HNSA students plan to have an egg-filling party later this semester to stuff the eggs with candy. On the night before Easter, they will visit people’s houses to plant the eggs outside.
“It’s a fun thing for us to do, and it’s a fun thing for kids to wake up to the next morning,” Nelson said.
The money raised will help cover expenses such as registration, food and travel for the convention, she said. Dr. Kim Cooper, HNSA sponsor and associate dean of nursing, said about 10 students and two faculty members, including sponsor Dr. Kim Swenson and herself, plan to attend.
Nelson said the national convention is important because she and the other Harding students will be representing Arkansas, not just their school. They will have the chance to listen to speakers and present a resolution about video interpretation services for deaf patients. Cooper said if student delegates vote for this resolution, it could be added to future legislation that impacts the nursing industry.
Senior Ella Givens, one of the HNSA vice presidents, said this year’s resolution advocates for better education about the importance of American Sign Language services. She said deaf patients can understand English about 40% of the time through lip reading, meaning they may not understand some words containing critical health care information.
“These proposed changes are important because they ultimately are working toward providing safe and just care to patients,” Givens said.
HNSA students began preparing for the Easter egg fundraiser in January, Nelson said. They placed posters for the event at local businesses around town and began buying eggs and candy. Cooper said the group also spread news of the fundraiser on social media and through word of mouth.
Although the group does not have a specific monetary goal for this year, Cooper said she has high hopes for the fundraiser.
“Our students try to raise as much as possible so that the school doesn’t have to pay any out of the funding,” Cooper said. “And so, gosh, the sky’s the limit on how much money we can make.”
