SFU faculty members and students plan to volunteer at the Mission-of-Mercy Health Clinic again this fall. The clinic is scheduled for Nov. 1-2 in Pittsburgh at the David Lawrence Convention Center.
An information session on the event was conducted on campus on Sept. 10.
Mission-of-Mercy Pittsburgh annually seeks around 1,000 volunteers to provide free care to Western Pennsylvania residents. Volunteers at the walk-in clinic treat people for a myriad of issues, from problems with teeth, ears, eyes, etc.
Regardless of citizenship, employment or insurance status, people who visit the clinic are treated.
Last October, 10 SFU students, three faculty members and two recent alums volunteered at the event.
“I think it is a wonderful opportunity for students to experience the goals of Franciscan higher education,” said Associate Professor of Spanish Larissa Clachar, who has served on multiple Mission-of-Mercy teams.
“Students always end up exhausted after the clinic in the most fulfilling way.”
The first Mission-of-Mercy clinic was launched in Virginia more than two decades ago. The first one in Pittsburgh took place in 2019.
Volunteers will stay overnight in the city on Thursday, Oct. 31, and then go through a training session early on the morning of Friday, Nov. 1.
The doors of the clinic will open at 5:30 a.m. on Friday and remain open until around 4 p.m. On Saturday, Nov. 2, the clinic will run from approximately 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
According to Professor of English Tim Bintrim, who has worked at multiple Mission-of-Mercy clinics in Pittsburgh, the team of volunteers helps well over 1,500 people across the two days.
“Missions of Mercy gives me hope for American health care – that someday we will see fit to offer universal basic health care to all Americans (and our guests who are not yet citizens),” said Bintrim.
He said the learning curve for the event can be a steep one.
“You are given lots of responsibility for making the clinic run smoothly, which is a bit scary, but you learn quickly.”
Clachar strongly encourages students to consider volunteering at the clinic.
“You get to experience respect for individuals, solidarity, community, global vision, and a generous attitude toward learning.”
