MU Sinclair School of

Nursing Students

Help Refill the Stork's Nest

Contact: Pam Roe
S218 School of Nursing
(573) 884-2690

by Jennette Hough

October 31, 2006

COLUMBIA , Mo. – For their capstone course, nursing students are required to work 90 community service hours. Elizabeth Wright, Stephanie McNellis and Ashlye Bentz were attracted to the Stork's Nest and its leader's unwavering commitment. So inspired that they organized a “Drop in and Donate” event for the morning of Saturday, November 4, at the new Wal-Mart Supercenter on west Broadway.

Worldwide there are about 18 species of storks. In North America, the wood stork is the only resident stork – bird that is. For the past seven years in Columbia, Missouri, Rolesta Rodgers has almost single-handedly built her own Stork's Nest. Her nest is a refuge for pregnant adolescents and new, young mothers to receive early and regular prenatal care so more babies get a healthy start in life.

“I think it's important to have a program like this based in the community,” said Bentz. “The numbers of teen-age pregnancies is increasing and education is one way to help them make informed decisions. Plus the Stork's Nest has an added bonus. These moms can earn baby items through active participation in the educational program.”

These three students want to take action and leave their home-away-from-home community of Columbia a better place before they graduate. They saw the opportunity to weave in new ideas and aid Rodger's mission of making her nest stronger and more viable.

“The Columbia community can get involved in the diaper drive by donating much needed infant care items such as disposable diapers, baby wipes, coats, socks, bottles, baby food, blankets and toiletries,” Bentz said. “Rolesta started the program when she saw a huge need in one of Columbia 's poorest neighborhoods. She gives so much of herself to counsel these new mothers in making better choices for themselves and their babies.”

The donated items will fill the Stork's Nest store where mothers can purchase them with incentive dollars they earn for attending and participating in educational meetings. The Stork's Nest is a national collaborative community service project of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., and March of Dimes.

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