Service Learning

MEDLIFE

Since my first year at IUPUI, I have been involved in the club MEDLIFE. This organization is a healthcare group that works hand in hand with low-income communities to deliver education and healthcare free of cost. Each "season" there are multiple service learning trips to places like Peru, Tanzania, Ecuador, and other low-income areas. Their mission is simple: build a worldwide movement that joins the fight for equal access to healthcare, education, and safe homes.

The MEDLIFE club at IUPUI is how I got into volunteering where I do at the food bank. I am currently holding the position of volunteer and service-learning coordinator. Through this, I contact potential places to volunteer and set up hours for MEDLIFE to volunteer locally.

Sheltering Wings

This semester, I have begun volunteering at Sheltering Wings. Located in Danville, this organization is made to help women and families escaping domestic violence. We offer emergency shelter and offer childcare and programs to help survivors build stable and independent lives. As a volunteer I primarily do childcare while the parents are in classes, getting paperwork done or have appointments. I have also sorted and organized donated items for the families. Volunteering here has allowed me to build connections and interpersonal skills not only with staff, but with families as well. Seeing the impact I make just from watching children for a few hours is something that cannot be explained, it makes my heart full.

St Vincent de Paul Food Pantry

Service Learnig is something that I try to do every semester. The first semester of my freshman year I volunteered at St Vincent de Paul food pantry. St Vincent de Paul is a faith based pantry that has strong ties to it's community. Throughout my time here, I worked various jobs. Some days I would be sorting out large food donations, other days I would work on shopping days. On these shopping days I did everything from cart collection to ticketing and restocking of items. I volunteered every Thursday and even had my friends join me some weeks!