The Ross Medical Education Center Portage, Michigan campus recently collected school items to assist the Portage Police Department in the “Pig Out at Public Safety” back to school event. During Pig Out at Public Safety, the Portage Police Department invited anyone from the community to come and enjoy a pig roast, visit with local fire, police, and emergency workers, explore local emergency vehicles, and receive free back to school supplies for elementary aged school children. The Ross campus was delighted to be included in those that were helping make this community event meaningful and helpful to local students and families.
In the weeks leading up to the big day, the students, staff, and faculty from the Portage campus worked together to gather as many items as they could. By the end of their drive, the campus was able to collect and donate over 200 items for the event. The items ranged from backpacks and paper to crayons and rulers, and everything in between. On the day of the event, donated items were packaged together and some backpacks were stuffed full of needed school supplies.
The Police Public Safety Department’s Officer Demont was very thankful for the donations and wanted everyone at Ross to know that it was much appreciated! “I am extremely excited about this event since we knew that our donations were going directly into the hands of children in our own community,” said Lindsay Petts, Admissions Representative at Ross. “It’s nice knowing that I was able to help make local families struggle less of a burden for the upcoming school year.”
Although this year was the first one for this event, plans for next year’s event are already in the works in the Portage community. Not only that, but the Ross Portage campus is looking forward to donating again and even volunteering at the event itself. They had wanted to volunteer this year, but the spots were all full of eager community members, so they know that they will be the first to sign up for next year’s event!