Within the Department of Human Services, Rehabilitation and Social Work there is a class devoted to extending arms to help a service in the Troy community. This semester, this class is taking on the task of donating food boxes to hospice patients at First Choice Hospice in Troy.
Hospice is a form of healthcare that specifically meets the needs of people with life-limiting resources by providing services to both the patients and support for their families.
The hospice mission statement reads “to help the patient and family to be as comfortable as possible for as long as possible. The focus is on living each day to the fullest: One day at a time.”
This group of students are requesting donations from all students and faculty interested. Specifically, they are looking for nonperishable items such as canned vegetables, canned fruit, or pasta. They are also taking cash donations.
“It is my hope that we will have enough food donated to be able to feed our hospice patients a nice meal to celebrate Spring, and also have enough left over to donate to others in need,” said Haley Danner, a senior social work major from Dothan and student in the class.
“We would like to see donations to help these patients because they are in their final stages of life and want them to be able to enjoy the time they have as comfortable and happy as possible.”
There will be a box made for individual hospice patients, while the remaining donations will all be donated to the local Salvation Army or the local food bank.
Danner went on to explain that monetary and food donations are not all that hospice needs.
“If you cannot make a monetary donation or bring food, Hospice is always in need of volunteers that can help the patients with simple tasks, keep them company, and talk with them,” said Danner.
Dr. Denise Green, the chair of the Department of Human Services, Rehabilitation and Social Work, has agreed to manage the donations.
She will be taking donations in McCartha Hall room 105.
While the project only continues until just after spring break, donations will be taken as long as people are willing to donate.
“This specific project will continue until the week after spring break in March. We will welcome donations after that and if they are too late to make it into the food boxes, we will ensure that they make it to a person in need,” said Danner.
This project is specifically designed to help take some anxiety off of the families of these patients. Some do not have the means to put a good meal on the table every night.
“Your single donation will help the hospice mission,” said Dr. Green.
Dr. Green has also agreed to give extra credit to students in all of her classes who make donations.
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