The Rally Call Blog

Note: This story was submitted to the Rally Call Blog through the Center for Civic Engagement by Ivy Tech Nursing student Travis Meeks.

I became involved in Big brother Big Sister in August of this year. My experience has been a rewarding one. Many volunteer activities may not provide such a long term benefit for all involved. The kids that volunteer to be in the program want to be there, and it only involves two hours a week for one year. The attachment that you develop is rewarding, and the difference that you make is profound. We make trips to the mall, movies, and just hang out together. It makes such a big impact on my “little’s” life. Take the step; become involved. www.BBBS.org

The Christian Challenge Club at Ivy Tech - Bloomington recently hosted a food drive challenge and the results are in… over 1000 food items were donated:

Ecology Club - 235 Items
Christian Challenge - 218 Items
Student Ambassadors - 202 Items
Phi Theta Kappa - 61 Items
College Democrats - 47 Items
Student Government Association - 23 Items

1st Floor Employees - 182 Items
2nd Floor Employees - 62 Items

TOTAL ITEMS DONATED: 1,030

Note: This story was submitted to the Rally Call Blog through the Center for Civic Engagement by Ivy Tech Nursing students Cheryl Hodge and Srimala Thinsan.

We went to Garden Villa nursing home and led a recreational activity group with twenty Alzheimers clients. We made crazy funny hats, (out of everything imaginable) and put them on our heads while listening to music. We also did a bowling game.

The events started out with feelings of, “I just want to go back to my room”, and within a very short time there were abundant smiles all around. Leading by example we put on the first silly hats and started asking others to put on a hat also. Very reluctantly the clients’ started to comply and soon we couldn’t make hat’s quick enough. Everyone wanted to wear a hat. We sang, clapped and danced to the music in our crazy hats having a grand time. Most clients were in wheelchairs but their hands were clapping and toes tapping. The bowling game was a regular with the clients and everyone excitedly took turns trying to get a strike. We cheered and clapped with each turn and hated to end the game for lunch.

We left knowing human beings, no matter their declining capabilities due to Alzheimer’s disease, enjoy a feeling of accomplishment and companionship. We had great pleasure living in the moment, enjoying each other’s company. The staff took pictures of several clients in their hats, and the clients were having a wonderful time posing for the camera. Everyone wants to feel special and important.

The positive results of this opportunity will stay with us long after our educational degree is obtained. This project reinforces the fact that being a nurse involves so much more then the ability to care for someone’s physical needs.

Cheryl Hodge

Srimala Thinsan

I hope that the love that I have in my heart for those suffering from Alzheimer’s was felt by those I spent time with. I wear my silly hat in memory of my Grandma Drew and my Grandma Ramage, who both suffered many years with this devastating disease.

Cheryl

Note: This story was submitted to the Rally Call Blog through the Center for Civic Engagement by Ivy Tech Nursing Instructor Rebecca Murphy.

Nursing students have been “making a difference” in our community. After learning about the educational benefits involved in Service learning activities, I decided to implement this into my course. Students are instructed to participate in a service learning project of their choice. The only requirements are for students to identify a community need relative to our lecture topics, formulate an appropriate intervention and then implement it. I am very pleased at the creativity and learning activities the students are engaging in. Some of the activities include volunteerism with the Middle Way House, Pages to Prisoners program, Backstreet Missions, Community Kitchen, Hannah House, Amethyst House, PALS program, and Center for Women’s Ministries. Other students developed interventions to offer support to high risk groups.

I want to thank each of these 48 students from NUR 250 and NSG 204 who are making our community a better place to live while taking advantage of one of the best ways to engage in learning.

IPOY: I’m proud of you!