Ten SFU students, three faculty members and two recent alums volunteered at the Mission of Mercy at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Oct. 27-29.
The team of volunteers who participated in this outreach program helped provide free dental, optical and hearing care to over 1,600 Pittsburgh-area residents.
“This experience affirms my view of humanity,” said English Professor Tim Bintrim. “It gives me hope that we might take care of each other in this country.”
Students who went on the trip enjoyed making a difference by helping others.
“It was a great experience,” said sophomore Biochemistry major Natalie Vogt, who assisted with hearing tests and extractions. “When people would leave the audiology department, they would be so happy and say ‘we can hear so much better.’”
The Saint Francis contingent was part of a group of approximately 1,000 volunteers at the event.
“It opens up a lot of opportunities for students,” said Bintrim. “Seeing a recent Biology graduate in his first year of dental school work with another dentist is amazing.”
In addition to Vogt, other students who volunteered their time at the event included Abrielle Brown, Sarah Evans, Priya Gupta, Garrett Hutton, Brandon Meija-Ramos, Kaylin Peters, Kaylin Rose, Gavin Ross and Abby Yahner.
Faculty members who participated included Bintrim, Associate Professor of Spanish Larissa Clachar and Biology Professor Justin Merry. Merry’s wife, Jen Merry, also assisted at the Mission of Mercy.
Alums Benjamin Kurtz ’22 and David Sullivan ’21 served as clinical providers in Dental Restoration and Medical Triage.
