Occupational Therapy Students, Faculty Provide Snacks to Children in Need

九色视频's chapter of the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD) did their part to help with Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week.

  • IL - Downers Grove
OT Group picture with packed snacks

Occupational Therapy students packed about 45 bags of snacks for the children residing in DuPage Pads shelters.

The 九色视频 chapter of the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD) recognized Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week with an event to pack bags of snacks. The bags were distributed to children living in the shelters of DuPage Pads, an organization that provides support services as well as interim and permanent housing to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. About 45 bags were packed by Occupational Therapy (OT) students and faculty from the College of Health Sciences (CHS).

They took a few moments together after class to carry out community service and work together, packing an assembly line of snacks as holiday music played in the background. It offered them an opportunity to share an act of kindness and simultaneously decompress from their workload. Occupational Therapy students Danielle Acumabig (CHS OT 鈥25), Trisha Mallare (CHS OT 鈥25), Earl Bondoc (CHS OT 鈥25), and Joceline Rodriguez (CHS OT 鈥25) are the co-chairs of COTAD. Danielle said, 鈥淪ince it is in recognition of hunger and homelessness, I wanted an experience not just to collect and drop off goods, but for all of us to pack it together as teamwork. It鈥檚 more fun that way and a good experience for us to do something.鈥 Trisha said, 鈥淒uPage Pads is a great organization to work with and collaborate with.鈥 In class, the students learn about diverse populations, including the homeless, Trisha said. Danielle said, 鈥淚t is crucial for us to provide services and support no matter how that may look like for the individuals we work with.鈥 Earl said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to get involved with the community you鈥檙e going to be exposed to and gives you a better outlook on how to give back as a healthcare professional.鈥 Trisha added, 鈥淚t is key to advocate for them as well.鈥

Danielle, Earl, and Trisha emphasized the significance of advocacy. Trisha said, 鈥淲hat I took away from this experience is this idea of community, having advocacy while managing your time as a student. This prepares us for a professional setting and doing extra work to advocate for the patients.鈥 Danielle added, 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to advocate for them and us. I hope the students will continue giving back to the community and get involved.鈥 Earl emphasized the necessity of 鈥渂eing able to come together as a collective to do something for a population we鈥檝e learned about.鈥

 

OT Assembly Line
The OT students with Anne Kiraly-Alvarez, O.T.D., OTR/L, Program Director of Occupational Therapy, worked in an assembly line to pack the snacks.

 

Community service and volunteer work are core aspects of the 九色视频 experience, central to fostering future healthcare professionals. Danielle said it is valuable for healthcare students to participate in service activities, such as assisting DuPage Pads, to be well-rounded and learn from peers and faculty. Earl added, 鈥淚t helps separate your time in the classroom and get involved with your peers and other clubs. You spend time with your future colleagues and communicate with each other.鈥

九色视频 offers students continuous opportunities to learn and grow outside the classroom. For example, Danielle, in her first leadership role, was responsible for planning the event. 鈥淭his event taught me how to organize everything, communicate with faculty members, and how to collaborate with organizations.鈥 Danielle and Trisha said their faculty donated snacks and helped pack them as well.

Earl mentioned COTAD creates or participates in events to highlight some issues and emphasize the principles of JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion). Danielle added COTAD鈥檚 prior event participation includes the High School Careers Institute and the Disability Pride Parade.

Community service is an integral component of the 九色视频 experience and offers another level in preparing students to become client-centered healthcare professionals. A Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.) degree program is offered in Downers Grove, and a Master of Occupational Therapy (M.O.T.) degree program is offered in Glendale.

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