| Students in the Duke PA program have a long tradition of taking time out of their busy academic schedules for community service and fundraising. The following list and photos overview several of the projects in which students have been recently involved:
Durham CROP Walk – Over 2,000 CROP Hunger Walks are sponsored by various communities across the U.S. every year. Durham proudly serves as a local host site, with over 4,000 walkers starting their 8k trek at Duke Chapel. Students and faculty participate in this event to raise money for the hungry in the Durham area and around the world. http://www.durhamcropwalk.org/
Valentine's Day Party at Duke Children's Hospital – Every year several students provide decorations, crafts, and ice cream sundaes for inpatients and their families at Duke Children’s Hospital to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Salvation Army - Over 20 students volunteered to help organize donated toys that were collected from the Christmas Angel Tree program. First and second year students joined together to help sort, bag, and tag the gifts which were later distributed to over 900 children in the community.
Traditionally, the PA class and faculty also create an Angel Tree of their own during the holiday season and donate gifts to deserving individuals through a charity such as the Durham Rescue Mission, a local homeless shelter in Durham.
Canned Food Drive – In 2007, the first ever Thanksgiving Food Drive Collection successfully collected over 1,000lbs of non-perishable items for the Durham Foodbank. Bins were constructed, decorated and placed in several areas including: Hanes House, Medical School Library, and general campus. Help the Durham Foodbank bring food to the tables of the needy by keeping this a running tradition!
Lincoln Community Health Center – Over the years Duke PA students have volunteered at Lincoln Community Health Center in various capacities. Lincoln serves as the primary source of care for the medically underserved in the Durham area, and can always greatly benefit from volunteers who are willing to help them serve the community. Most recently, students assisted with the Medicaid Project and helped in following up with and scheduling appointments for 2,000 Medicaid patients assigned to the center. http://www.lincolnchc.org/
Habitat for Humanity – Students from the class helped build homes for needy families in Wake County on two separate occasions. http://www.habitatwake.org/
Ronald McDonald House – On Halloween, students dressed in costumes and cooked a meal for the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Durham. After having such a wonderful experience, students returned later in the year to host a ‘game night’ for the families. Additionally, throughout the year we helped the Ronald McDonald House offset their house expenses by participating in their soda Pop Tab Collection. http://www.ronaldhousedurham.org/
Burton Elementary School Project – This is the biggest community service project event of the year, with nearly full participation of the entire class annually. The first year class spends an afternoon at Burton Elementary School in Durham educating 4th grade students on the importance of handwashing, dental hygiene, and general health/wellness. Each year PA students design a unique curriculum including an original skit (complete with student actors in costume such as ‘Jenny Germ’ and 'Timmy Toothpaste’) and a variety of interactive learning stations. The elementary students learn skills like how to properly wash their hands, brush and floss their teeth, and then put their new found knowledge to the test at the ‘Jeopardy’ station.
Burton Elementary Photos April 2008
Blood Drive – In 2007, the first year PA class organized and hosted the first annual Red Cross Blood Drive in Hanes House. The event was a huge success and 40 pints of blood were collected from students, faculty, and members of the Duke community. Additionally, all food and beverages from the ‘canteen’ area (with the exception of a few drinks) were generously donated by students in order to offset the cost of putting on the drive by the Red Cross.
 
Halloween at Croasdale Village – Students dressed in Halloween costumes and spent the evening with residents of Croasdale Village, a long term care facility in Durham. Students mingled with residents of the independent living portion of the facility at their annual Halloween party. They also visited with and brought candy to residents of the assisted living portion of the facility who were unable to make it to the party.
Carnivore Preservation Trust – The Carnivore Preservation Trust, located in Pittsboro, NC serves as a refuge for rescued or endangered species of large cats. Several students helped clear a tiger's enclosure and prepared it for expansion. A small donation from the Stead Society was also made to the Carnivore Preservation Trust to help with their operating budget which relies heavily on private donors. |
