Friday, September 25, 2009
Area health groups solicit help
A program seeks to match up prospective medical volunteers with area organizations.
Sara Campbell, a licensed practical nurse, takes a blood pressure reading at the Bradley Free Clinic in Roanoke. The clinic is one of several organizations participating in Tuesday's Medical Volunteer Opportunities Showcase.
SAM DEAN The Roanoke Times
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Roanoke's Second Presbyterian Church and Hollins University hope to foster interest in improving the health of underserved communities with an event coming up Tuesday.
The Medical Volunteer Opportunities Showcase will provide information on several medical volunteer opportunities in Roanoke.
The showcase will feature six local vendors and organizations: Orphan Medical Network International, Bradley Free Clinic, Project Access, Kimoyo, Hollins and Second Presbyterian.
"This is the first time we've tried something like this," said George Anderson, senior minister at Second Presbyterian, which is sponsoring the event with Hollins.
"Because of the growing medical community in Roanoke, we wanted to have a showcase where anyone who is interested in volunteering their efforts can see how they can go about doing so, whether faith-based or secular."
Karen ReMine, president of OMNI, said she hopes to educate residents on the volunteering opportunities they have in Roanoke and at the mission, based in the south central African country of Zambia.
"We're hoping to show that you can make a difference in the world, even as one person," ReMine said.
Anderson said Hollins officials decided to co-sponsor the event not only because the school appreciated the cause, but because they also saw it as a good opportunity for students with health-related majors.
He said the showcase will benefit Hollins students because they will get the chance to learn about volunteer opportunities and about possible internships to gain experience and improve their resumes.
He described the showcase is a laid-back, "drop-in affair" with no big presentations, and he encouraged people to come and spend as much time as they want to speaking with people who can answer their questions.
