TRIO students provide care packages to nursing home residents

Beaufort County Community College TRIO Student Support Services celebrated TRIO Day 2021 by providing care packages for the residents of River Trace Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Washington. Students, staff and friends of TRIO participated in the service project that was dubbed, “Operation Care: Thinking of You Cards”. Participants signed and wrote sentiments for over 200 cards that were included in small care package. Each resident will receive at least two cards along with stress balls, note pads, pens and sugar-free candy.

Students Charlie Moore and Shondra Hardy met TRIO staff at the center on Friday, February 27, 2021, to present the packages to Jerome Ward, River Trace activities coordinator. Ward stated that the residents will love receiving the packages and that these kinds of gestures help ease their feelings of isolation, especially during the pandemic.

Tashawna Scott, TRIO student development coordinator, shared that she was overjoyed with the response from the students. “I was really touched by the care that the students took in writing their special messages,” she shared. “They made the project happen through return mailings and socially distanced drop offs. Our TRIO scholars are the best.”

National TRIO Day was designated by Congress in 1986 to commemorate the achievement of the federal TRIO programs. TRIO students across the country enjoy this day as an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of educational opportunity for all and to give back to their local communities through acts of service. BCCC TRIO students Ashley Scherer and Iesha Smallwood are featured in a presentation that celebrates North Carolina TRIO programs.

TRIO Student Support Services has been a part of Beaufort County Community College for more than 40 years. There are more than 1,000 colleges, universities, and community agencies across the nation that host more than 2,800 TRIO projects that serve more than 800,000 young people and adults, who are often the first in their families to attend college.

Students who are interested in TRIO Student Support Services should contact Dorothy Jordan at dorothy.jordan@beaufortccc.edu or 252-940-6287.