Students at Sam Houston State University’s School of Nursing got involved with Montgomery County Food Bank several years ago when they came to give presentations on healthy habits  to clients. That partnership soon grew into regular volunteer service.

“In community nursing, we talk a lot about vulnerable communities and food insecurity,” says Linda James, who leads their volunteer effort.

These students wanted to become more aware of the need for food assistance and how relief is distributed to clients across the county.

The school’s motto? “The measure of life is its service.” SHSU aims to teach course concepts through community service. Linda tells her students, “It’s your responsibility to help those who need it. It’s the humanitarian thing to do.”

At Montgomery County Food Bank, SHSU’s School of Nursing students sort donated food for distribution and help with the children’s Backpack Buddy program among other activities that support our mission. In return, the students become more aware of their own communities and understand just what they can do to help our neighbors in need.

Linda adds that there are personal benefits to volunteering, too. “The feeling of doing something good for someone else outweighs the time. It changes the way [you] think and gives you satisfaction.”

We simply couldn’t do the work of hunger-relief without generous gifts of time from community partners like SHSU’s School of Nursing.