Manatee County schools nurses sponsor two Dream Oaks campers

'Tis the season!

Nurses at a range of Manatee County schools, such as Nolan and Braden River middle schools, got into the giving spirit Dec. 9, when they donated $675 to the Foundation for Dreams Dream Oaks Camp.

Rather than exchanging gifts with each other, as the healthcare professionals normally do each holiday season, they collected donations to send two special needs students to the year-round camp.

Dream Oaks Camp provides therapeutic camping programs for children ages 7 to 17 with special needs and chronic and terminal illnesses.

Donna Pasko, a former nurse with the school district, is retiring and going to work for the camp.

She was especially excited and surprised by the donation, she said.