Nursing students in Public and Population Health conducted an assessment to determine the needs of a local community – and then they went right ahead addressed those some of those needs themselves.
The nursing clinical taught by Jeannine Kaskoun, Ph.D., assistant professor of nursing, just completed a four-year assessment of Hoosick Falls, a rural town near the Vermont border. Their goal? To examine the health and social service resources currently available there, then determine which gaps exist and how they can best be addressed. This semester’s research took on added urgency as it was conducted during the fall government shutdown.
“After bringing students to this community for the past three years for the nursing clinical, it was great to give back to the community at this particular time,” said Kaskoun. “We were working during the time of the government shutdown, and our students saw first hand how safety net benefits are crucial to many people, especially in rural areas.”
One of the earliest and clearest results of the assessment showed the great need for personal care items such as shampoo, deodorant, soap, toothpaste and more. These items are not usually stocked in food pantries, and are not covered by federal benefits like SNAP. The Saints got to work organizing a collection of these items with donation boxes in Nobel Hall and the Chapel. A fund drive brought in more than $400, and NYS Assemblyman John McDonald also assisted through Marra’s Pharmacy in Cohoes. The students delivered the items to the Head Start offices in November.
The class has had several community partners for their research, among them the Hoosick Falls Central School District, the Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO), Head Start, and the non-profit Mom Starts Here. Further results of the assessment are being compiled.
“Siena’s Baldwin Nursing Program, and this class specifically, emphasizes community service and outreach as being a big part of becoming well-rounded nurses,” said Makayla Alfred RN ’26. “It was amazing to see how Siena provided donations for Hoosick Falls in a special time of need. Gathering all the donations and personally bringing them back to Hoosick Falls was very fulfilling and the community members were extremely grateful!”
Bridget Cassidy RN ‘26 said working with her fellow Siena nursing classmates to support Hoosick Falls was “an incredibly rewarding experience.”
“By partnering with both CEO and Mom Starts Here, we were able to turn our community assessment into real support through our essential toiletry fundraiser, providing necessary items to local families. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a community that welcomed us so kindly!”
