This June the Ross Medical Education Center campus in Lafayette, Indiana gave their time and energy to partner with the local YWCA. Many of the students were able to learn how the YWCA’s Cancer Care Program works for those in need of treatment for and awareness of breast cancer. Many local retailers in Lafayette have donated bras and other special clothing materials to the YWCA. Unfortunately, these donations had been stored in a closet that was unorganized and cluttered which made it difficult to help those in need.
To help make the supplies more accessible, students in the morning Medical Assistant class and the morning Medical Insurance Billing and Office Administration class along with Assistant Campus Director of Education Monique Garcia, Assistant Campus Director of Admissions Krissy Patrick, and Instructors Marie Aveline and Doreen Fossnock, were all able to volunteer and organize the closet and materials so that they could be utilized by their staff to provide a great service to those in the program.
The students thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to help, and they learned a lot in the process! It is such a unique program that is receiving a lot of grants and donations by the community! Many were really surprised by the impact the program is making right in their own neighborhood with people that they know. Medical Insurance Billing and Office Administration student LaShanda Clark said, “I really enjoyed helping out. It was really nice and fun. It also made me feel good on the inside.” Lyndsay Deitrick, current student in the Medical Assistant program, agreed, “it was fun to go and organize the donated bras. It felt good to go and help others out.”
Staff and faculty were very proud of the time and energy their students gave to this worthy cause. “This was one of our best efforts yet for our students to give back,” shared Campus Director Tim Hula. “Our partnership with the YWCA is very strong and it just got stronger! The organization sent us a “thank you” card last week signed by the entire staff from the YWCA of Lafayette. That felt really great!”