Many Ross students chose to pursue an education and career in the health field because of their compassion and commitment to helping those in their community. The Ross Medical Education Center Midland, Michigan campus recently exemplified this characteristic by volunteering on two different occasions at the Midland’s Open Door Soup Kitchen to prepare and serve food to approximately 50 people.
Students were able to team up and volunteer for two different dates in February. Although most of them chose just one of the two dates, one of the students that volunteered for the first date returned for the second date as well, and another student has chosen to begin to volunteer each week on her own. Many other students were inspired by the experience and shared that it was something that they wanted to do again in the future.
The Midland Open Door Soup Kitchen runs strictly on food donations from local restaurants, time donations spent preparing and serving food by local volunteers and dish washing by individuals housed at the facility. Meals are provided at no cost to area residents, low income or homeless individuals, individuals in recovery programs, and guests staying at the facility who either can’t afford the food they need or cannot make it with the financial resources available to them.
Donelle Kiessel, Ross Campus Director, commented as she oversaw the first shift students preparing food, “it is always a humbling experience to be able to help make and serve food to those in need in our community.” Once the food was prepared, the second shift students arrived just before noon to serve lunch. Laura C., a current student in the Midland Medical Assistant program, commented with enthusiasm, “I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to volunteer in the Midland Community with Ross Medical. It was an excellent experience and I can’t wait to go back and help out again.” Another Medical Assistant student, Chad O., shared, “serving food at the Open Door Soup Kitchen was a great experience. I really enjoyed working with my fellow Ross students and staff.”