(Bluefield)—Two months and nearly 4000 pairs of white socks after they launched their effort, second year students in the Bluefield State College Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program are sending those socks to diabetics displaced by the recent series of hurricanes in the southern United States and Mexico. The socks can improve these victims’ ability to avoid dangerous, diabetes-related foot illnesses. “Each year, our second year students launch a service project that addresses adult health challenges,” noted Sandra Wynn, Interim ADN program director. “This project focuses on a chronic illness, diabetes.” Major complications facing diabetics include foot ulcers, a heightened risk for foot infections, and even amputations. The students collected 3992 pairs of brand new socks, which have been shipped to hurricane victims in the south and in Mexico.

“This threat is particularly acute for diabetics affected by hurricanes, because of the unclean living conditions that can develop after disasters of this magnitude,” Wynn observed, adding that the American Diabetes Association had launched a campaign to collect and distribute diabetes medications to Hurricane Katrina victims—an initiative that gave rise to the BSC students’ project to collect white cotton socks.

“The students really embraced the idea,” Wynn continued. “They received support from churches, the region, and the College community. This project helps our students assist people whose lives have been impacted by this disaster, and at the same time, it is a vivid reminder to our students that diabetics need to keep their feet protected.”

November 2, 2005