Spring Break
Project HEALTH volunteers aid citizens in need
Public health initiative allows Hopkins students to volunteer in efforts to reach out to Baltimore residents in need of support
Issue date: 9/18/08
For the past two years, Hopkins students have made an impact on the lives of over 3,000 Baltimore residents as volunteers for Project HEALTH.
Founded in 1996 in the Boston Medical Center Pediatrics Department, Project HEALTH currently spans five cities with four specific clinics in Baltimore. The program works to bring a total package of services, including medical attention and food supplies to needy families.
Hopkins campus coordinator Jemma Alarcon described the program as "fighting against poverty and poor health through public health interventions." The Public Health Department works as an intermediary between families in need and agencies that provide services; College students serve as the connecting factory by manning resource desks in each clinic.
From October 2006 to June this summer, the Harriet Lane resource desk alone has served over 591 individual patients. The four clinics have helped about 1,400 of families in total the past two years.
"When we help someone with food stamps, we're helping their families as well … we've seen a total number of 3,000 lives touched," Mark Morino, the Baltimore site director, said.
Among the numerous accounts, Morino described one of the first cases in October of 2006. A woman came to the Harriet Lane Clinic, initially passing the resource desk as she went to see her pediatrician. She did not feel like talking about her situation at the time.
Her pediatrician walked her to the resource table on her way out, encouraging her to take advantage of the students' aid.
"When she sat down she got really emotional and started crying after telling her story about her family situation and her housing situation," Morino said.
She had recently lost her job and felt overwhelmed not knowing what to do. The student volunteer sat with her and talked her through the situation.
Morino said they first started to address the food situation.
Since then Morino said that the client has gotten access to food, found an affordable apartment in Baltimore and took a job-training course. She is now actively applying for a job with her new computer skills, according to Morino.
Founded in 1996 in the Boston Medical Center Pediatrics Department, Project HEALTH currently spans five cities with four specific clinics in Baltimore. The program works to bring a total package of services, including medical attention and food supplies to needy families.
Hopkins campus coordinator Jemma Alarcon described the program as "fighting against poverty and poor health through public health interventions." The Public Health Department works as an intermediary between families in need and agencies that provide services; College students serve as the connecting factory by manning resource desks in each clinic.
From October 2006 to June this summer, the Harriet Lane resource desk alone has served over 591 individual patients. The four clinics have helped about 1,400 of families in total the past two years.
"When we help someone with food stamps, we're helping their families as well … we've seen a total number of 3,000 lives touched," Mark Morino, the Baltimore site director, said.
Among the numerous accounts, Morino described one of the first cases in October of 2006. A woman came to the Harriet Lane Clinic, initially passing the resource desk as she went to see her pediatrician. She did not feel like talking about her situation at the time.
Her pediatrician walked her to the resource table on her way out, encouraging her to take advantage of the students' aid.
"When she sat down she got really emotional and started crying after telling her story about her family situation and her housing situation," Morino said.
She had recently lost her job and felt overwhelmed not knowing what to do. The student volunteer sat with her and talked her through the situation.
Morino said they first started to address the food situation.
Since then Morino said that the client has gotten access to food, found an affordable apartment in Baltimore and took a job-training course. She is now actively applying for a job with her new computer skills, according to Morino.
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