Northwestern’s SWAT Chapter Gives Donations for Compassion in Action Dignity Drive to Taft Elementary, Alva Middle Schools

January 31, 2023

Northwestern Oklahoma State University SWAT vice president Bishop Buck (left) and president Ashley Garner (right) distributed the Compassion in Action Dignity Drive donations to the Taft Elementary School in Enid and Alva Middle School. 

Students in the Social Workers Association of Tomorrow (SWAT) chapter at Northwestern Oklahoma State University recently completed their Compassion in Action Dignity Drive for the 2022 fall semester.

SWAT is a student-run organization that seeks to enhance the social work learning experience. One of SWAT’s purposes is to employ community service projects while supporting community partners and their consumers. The Compassion in Action Dignity Drive is one of the community service projects SWAT students host to give back to the community.

This year SWAT was able to gather donations for the Taft Elementary School in Enid and Alva Middle School, filling some of their personal hygiene product needs. Donations included toothbrushes, toothpaste, body wash, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, feminine hygiene products and more.

Taft Elementary School in Enid receives donations from the Northwestern Oklahoma State University SWAT Compassion in Action Dignity Drive. (Left to right) Ashley Garner, SWAT president, Bishop Buck, SWAT vice president, Robert Kappus, Taft Elementary School principal, with Codi Harding, SWAT sponsor and assistant professor of social work.

“The Dignity Drive was successful again this year,” Codi Harding, SWAT sponsor and assistant professor of social work, said. “It has allowed SWAT to provide basic needs to children and adolescents in local communities who do not have access to everyday hygiene products. Generous donations made it possible to provide these products to those in need.”

SWAT members would like to thank everyone who assisted with putting this event together and those who were able to donate from all three Northwestern locations.

“Being able to help the communities we live in is huge,” Bishop Buck, Roanoke, Virginia, senior and SWAT vice president, said. “Participating in this year's Dignity Drive was an exciting experience and a great way to give back to the community. We often forget about the need for personal hygiene products, and many people take them for granted. Not only was SWAT able to donate several personal hygiene items, but we were also able to spread awareness for this common need.”

Northwestern’s SWAT members and social work majors, with their hometowns, classification and SWAT involvement include McKenzie Cramer, Ashland, Kansas, sophomore, member; Allysa Donaldson, Elk City sophomore, member; Ashley Garner, Stillwater junior, president; Macy Howell, Attica, Kansas, sophomore, member; Kyra Hussey, Okeene sophomore, member; Amy Ireland, Seiling senior, member; Megan Lickliter, Ponca City senior, member; Jocelyn Long, Overland Park, Kansas, senior, member; Rachel Martin, Woodward sophomore, member; Bailey Pelland, Pratt, Kansas, junior, member; Krystan Pierce, Woodward sophomore, member; Chantal Rocha, Woodward senior, member; Sierra Swanson, Fairview senior, member; Mickenzie Turner, Enid sophomore, member; Mahawa Tyler, Alva sophomore, member; Melanie Yager, Woodward junior, member; and Buck.

Alva Middle School receives donations from the Northwestern Oklahoma State University SWAT Compassion in Action Dignity Drive. (Left to right) Bishop Buck, SWAT vice president, Jaci Heaton, Alva Middle School counselor, Ashley Garner, SWAT president, with Codi Harding, SWAT sponsor and assistant professor of social work.

"Access to basic self-care items is a challenge for some students in Oklahoma,” Garner said. “Through the simple act of donating, Northwestern Rangers showed compassion in a BIG way giving local students an opportunity to overcome adversity with dignity." 

For more information concerning the Compassion in Action Dignity Drive, contact Harding at (580) 213-3148 or clharding@nwosu.edu. For more information about Northwestern’s social work program, visit https://www.nwosu.edu/school-of-arts-and-sciences/social-work.

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CONTACT FOR RELEASE
Erin Davis, University Relations Specialist
eedavis@nwosu.edu, 580-327-8480