Doniya Quenneville always had a feeling that nursing was her calling.
When she was young her grandfather got sick: “I knew at that point, when I helped my grandfather get better, that this is where I want to go and this is what I want to do,” she said.
The fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) Algonquin student is in the collaborative nursing program with U Ottawa, is about to graduate and recently helped host the first annual Second-Hand Clothing Sale on Nov 23 at Algonquin.
The sale was a collaboration between all the students in the program to help raise funds for their pinning ceremony, which is a symbolic welcoming of newly graduated nurses into the nursing profession.
Separate from the traditional university convocation, graduates receive their nursing pins in a more intimate setting with professors, friends and family. The day involves the ceremony itself and a celebration gala.
The pinning ceremony is student-run and funded. Earlier this year, fundraising events included a night out to a bar where they charged tickets to raise money. Two bake sales were held on campus already that had great turnouts.
The idea came about because a few women in the class were already selling items through second-hand clothing sales online. Others got together with a group of friends to swap their clothing.
“We’re full of students here that are on a pretty tight budget so why not give them the opportunity to buy clothing, especially as we go into the holiday season,” Quenneville said.
Delaney Burnhart, fourth-year nursing student, agrees. “I always wanted to do nursing,” she said. “My mom’s a nurse and I always had the interest.”
The second-hand clothing sale raised $320 towards the pinning ceremony. The remaining clothing was donated to three different charitable organizations in the Ottawa area.
“We are really pleased with how the event turned out,” Quenneville said.