When alumni give back, they strengthen the heart of Galen College of Nursing’s community

Kayla Myers and Deonte Dance, both part of Roanoke’s second graduating cohort in December 2024, took time out of their days and their own money to help Roanoke’s campus fill 25 Thanksgiving boxes for students. Myers and Dance brought over multiple bags full of non-perishable items for the students’ benefits, including cans of vegetables, stuffing mix boxes, instant potatoes, and gravy mix.

“(Kayla) went and got some food from her house and Food Lion, I brought food items too, and we just gave back, and that’s what it’s all about,” said Dance, who now works on the Progressive Care Unit at LewisGale Medical Center in Salem, Va. “Some students may be struggling financially like I was. It’s only fair, if I’m in a position to help, I’m going to help. We’re all really about giving back to the community and the school.”

As they did last year, the Roanoke leadership conducted an informal poll of students to see who may need some help this holiday season to put a meal on the tables, for themselves, or for their families. Through the poll and discussions, campus leaders decided to put together 25 Thanksgiving boxes for students. From there, the good news started rolling in.

After speaking with the local Food Lion grocery store about purchasing Turkeys and non-perishable ingredients for the boxes, the campus learned that Food Lion will be providing the 25 Turkeys at no cost for the students in need to pick up. From there, our partners at HCA Healthcare in Southwest Virginia agreed to provide $250 towards filling up the boxes with the necessary food and cooking items.

That helped lower the burden on the Galen Roanoke staff, who helped fill the rest of the boxes. Each student is receiving a box of stuffing, instant potatoes, two cans of vegetables, a box of cake mix or pie mix, instant gravy, and some bread.

“I feel I am very blessed and I feel the need to support our students, so if I feel like if there’s a need I don’t mind picking up an extra load of items,” Galen Roanoke Dean Kimberly Brown said. “If we have the opportunity to make the students lives easier, we definitely want to do it. The ultimate goal is to serve our students.”

For Dance, being able to provide a meal to current Galen students hit home, and brought him back to where he was a year ago as he was finishing his degree program and trying to provide for himself and his two sons.

“Last year, I was really not in a position to do anything Thanksgiving related,” Dance said. “I was struggling financially, still trying to finish school. A few of the faculty and the dean all reached out and told me just go into the food pantry and get myself some food, a few things I can make for myself and the boys, and they actually had put some funds together and put together a thanksgiving kit. It had a turkey and instant stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc… and that’s what they told me they’re doing this year.

“It was a great feeling, the fact that they were able to come together and help me was truly a blessing.
The least me and (Kayla) can do was to return the favor.”

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