Westfield fourth graders make sweet donation

Surry’s Sweetest, a local type 1 diabetes support group, received a heartfelt donation from the fourth-grade class at Westfield Elementary School on May 20. Surry’s Sweetest is a support group for children living with type 1 diabetes and their families. The group is coordinated by the Diabetes Education Program at the Surry County Health & Nutrition Center.

Surry’s Sweetest began 12 years ago and was created as a partnership between Surry County Health & Nutrition Center and local school nurses to ensure that students with type 1 diabetes did not feel alone in learning to live with their new diagnosis. The support group is heavily grant and donation funded and has been supported by the Surry County Health Foundation throughout the years.

The group provides fun events and activities at no charge to participants and their families. Children make friends with other students who also have type 1 diabetes. In addition, the group provides support and encouragement to each other while also eagerly embracing new families with children recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Pell’s fourth grade class spearheaded the fundraiser to show support for a fellow student recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Upon hearing about the plans, Mrs. Varney’s fourth grade class excitedly joined in on the efforts, and eventually the whole school became involved. The generous donation, collected largely by coins given by the kindhearted elementary students, was presented to Surry’s Sweetest by the Fourth graders and their school nurse, Danielle Robertson, RN.

Surry’s Sweetest said they are grateful for the community support and welcome children and families to join the group. For more information about Surry’s Sweetest, please contact Kelly Whittington or Michelle West at 336-401 8419.