Baystate Medical Center hosts back to school drive

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Baystate Medical Center hosted their 16th annual Back to School Supply Drop Off drive on Friday just in time for the start of classes.

Employees across departments at Baystate Medical Center collected a variety of supplies to benefit over 8 of our schools right here in Springfield and thanks to their generous donations over 200 classrooms will have brand new supplies.

Our first responders and our health care providers came together to show their support for our students and teachers ahead of this school year by providing them everything they could possibly need from backpacks and pencils to tissues and Clorox wipes.

“This is just so very near and dear to our hearts are all of our employees hearts,” said Chief Nurse Executive at Baystate Health, Joanne Miller. “To be able to help the students get off to a really healthy start and feel like they have what they need at their fingertips.”

This school supply drive ensures that students and teachers alike are equipped with everything they need for the school year. The schools make a wish list and our first responders deliver!

“Our wish lists actually reflect what the items that you see in the room I think those are the items which often times are most needed only students, but also by the teachers themselves,” said Chief Operating Officer at Baystate Health, Sheldrick Street.

The assistant vice principal at Gerena school told 22news that often times teaches have to pay things out of their own pockets for the classroom these donations are meant to alleviate some of those barriers.

“It’s like Christmas when we go to our school with these supplies, the teachers are all excited and they’re getting ready like I want. I need this for classrooms and it’s awesome to see that the community came together and is able to support our students and their needs,” said Shahein Kiaresh.

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