Ascension RNs will host gift drive on December 8, the day the Christmas concert was scheduled to take place at Ascension Via Christi Child Development Center

Registered nurses at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis and St. Joseph’s in Wichita, Kansas will host a gift drive for toys and school supplies on Friday, December 8, in response to Ascension management canceling the Christmas concert scheduled to take place on that day at the Christi Child Development Center (CDC), announced National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United.

Ascension canceled the Christmas concert because they are using the space to train the temporary nurses hired by management to work during the lockout after the strike. Many nurses have young children enrolled at the CDC who were looking forward to singing.

“We know Ascension has vast resources at its disposal so management could have found another space to train nurses they have hired to work during the lockout,” said Shelly Rader, RN in the emergency room at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis. “It is completely unnecessary and cruel to cancel a children's Christmas concert. Ascension could also bring us back to work now. We’re ready to go.”

What: Gift drive for donations of toys and school supplies
When: Friday, December 8, 10 am to 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m 
Where: First Church of the Brethren, 1103 N. Jefferson St., Wichita 

Go here for detailed list of local actions, locations, and events, ending Sunday, December 10. Nurses will be available for interviews at these events.

National Nurses Organizing Committee is an affiliate of National Nurses United, the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with nearly 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates also include California Nurses Association, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.