DUNMORE, Pa. — Students and faculty in the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing at Penn State Scranton and Scranton's corporate communication program teamed up this semester to support St. Joseph’s Center through a baby drive initiative. The project, named “Corporate Communication x Nursing ‘Pile the Pantry’ Baby Drive,” combined the efforts of both departments to benefit the local community.
St. Joseph’s Center in Scranton provides individuals and families with special needs the opportunity to develop their abilities and potential to the fullest extent possible through residential, community and home-based services, outpatient therapy, and maternity, family and adoption services.
Nursing Program Coordinator Justina Malinak and Corporate Communication Program Coordinator Kelly Conlon-Mazzucca played pivotal roles in initiating this project. Malinak’s idea to support St. Joseph’s Center through a baby drive was met with enthusiasm by Conlon-Mazzucca, who saw an opportunity for her corporate communication students to contribute their skills in marketing and promotion with the campus' nursing students. Their collaboration ensured the project’s success and highlighted the benefits of interdisciplinary teamwork.
Interdisciplinary collaboration leads to successful baby drive initiative
“The nursing department strives to connect clinical experiences with service in the local community," Malinak explained. The collaboration with St. Joseph's Center was a perfect complement to the students' current curriculum, since the third-year nursing students are currently rotating through obstetrics and pediatrics clinicals, with the pediatric rotation taking place at St. Joseph’s Trinity Child Care Center – a valued clinical partner. “Corporate Communication x Nursing joined forces to conduct a drive over a month’s time for items for their baby pantry,” Malinak said.
Conlon-Mazzucca said she was eager to involve her students in the drive and collaborate with nursing.
“When Malinak approached and asked if Corporate Communication wanted to help create marketing materials, promote and join in the collection efforts for the nursing department’s baby drive, I immediately said ‘Yes!’” Conlon-Mazzucca said. “At first glance, corporate communication and nursing may seem worlds apart. However, this initiative is the perfect example of how two seemingly unrelated departments can collaborate seamlessly, combining their strengths to help our community.”
Community impact
Items collected during the drive included baby bottles, baby wipes, burp cloths, baby wash and lotion, pacifiers, pull-ups, baby towels, diapers, diaper bags and formula. Additionally, the drive gathered baby clothes, blankets, bibs, teething toys and baby food. These essential items will help support families in need within the community.
St. Joseph’s Center Outreach Coordinator Loren Schab expressed gratitude for the support.
“When anyone reaches out for a donation, we are so thankful and grateful. It helps replenish everything in the pantry so we can just keep giving it out to the community for all the children in need,” Schab said. “This isn’t the first time Penn State Scranton has reached out to help us and it’s always been a great experience to work with the students we get to meet.”