Every day, nurses and doctors are constantly on their feet through long stressful hours, saving human lives during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While this past week was National Nurses Week, what special way to honor and give back to nurses by providing them a pair of Nikes. That is exactly what SUNY Old Westbury media and communication senior Ajón Crump is currently doing with her #NikesforNurses campaign.
Launched back in mid-April, Crump was inspired by her cousin, a nurse in Florida. “#NikesForNurses started with my cousin expressing interest in new sneakers for her birthday, Crump said. That was the first time I considered the importance of comfortable sneakers as a part of nurses’ uniforms. I sent my cousin a gift card as a ‘Thank you for your hard work!’ Then I realized I could thank a few more nurses,” said Crump.
She then ordered four pairs of Nike sneakers and posted them on her social media, stating she would send them to nurses who are on the front lines. “It didn’t take long for me to distribute all of them to well-deserving nurses. Four of the first five nurses who I sent sneakers to are women that I didn’t previously know. It became abundantly clear to me that I wanted to send as many brand new sneakers as possible and so that’s what we’re doing.”
Crump created the #NikesforNurses GoFund Me page that same month with her now current goal to raise $15,000 to send sneakers to 200 nurses. She describes the process of sending sneakers to nurses as simple. “We receive donations and place the orders online. The orders ship to my house, I re-wrap them and insert a “Thank You” card and then ship them to the Nurse’s home.” Currently, fifty-three nurses have received sneakers, along with fifteen pairs that have been shipped and twenty-eight pairs awaiting repackaging.
Her campaign has caught the attention of many media outlets such as Pix11, BET, Essence Magazine, 1010 WINS, Complex, and many more.
Crump is hoping she can extend her campaign past the COVID-19 pandemic due to nurses constantly working hard to save the lives of others and that sneakers are a necessary part of their work outfits. She always expresses her gratitude and appreciation for nurses and other healthcare professionals on the front lines. “I really am just in awe of them and I’m super grateful and that’s why I wanted to do something that could help them and show my appreciation.”
In addition to her campaign, Crump is an intern at Old Westbury Web Radio(OWWR) and is a member of the Tau Sigma National Honor Society. She is expected to graduate this month.
To refer a nurse or if you are a nurse, please email nikesfornurses@gmail.com. People can go to the GoFundMe page to donate. For questions, reach out to the team at nfn.people@gmail.com.
