Student reaches out to those in need
By Charity Parker, October 2009
Community Editor
While some students reach out by getting involved on campus, others prefer to volunteer off campus. In Amber Wilkinson's case, she exceeds expectations by being active everywhere she can.
The 19-year-old biology major leads an active academic career in hopes of transferring to ASU and then eventually attending the University of Colorado in Denver. It is her love of the medical field that has led her to become an active volunteer at John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital.
Wilkinson began volunteering at the hospital nearly 10 months ago in an attempt to experience different aspects of the medical field. She hopes that this will help her to gain focus in her academics and give her a little perspective while she does her part to help others in need.
Every Tuesday morning, Wilkinson's volunteer day begins at 5 a.m. while most PVCC students are still sleeping. While she is not bound to any set hours, Wilkinson says that her day usually ends around 1 p.m. She can usually be found in one of three places: in the E.R. doing whatever is asked of her, in admitting checking patients in or in the medical imaging building preping patients for x-rays.
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Photo by Charity Parker
Student Amber Wilkinson volunteers in her spare time.
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Despite the great volume of volunteer work Wilkinson does at the hospital, she still manages to donate her time elsewhere. Her first volunteer work began with an organization called Horses Help off Cave Creek Road and Rose Garden Lane. Horses Help is an organization that works with special-needs children and adults as they interact with horses in a kind of therapy.
"Kids are my passion," says Wilkinson, which would explain why this will be her second year with the organization.
Wilkinson can be found there Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. until noon helping children to develop better communication skills and teaching them to ride. In this line of work, Wilkinson sees children with everything from paralysis to autism. Wilkinson mentions a new program the organization is creating that will involve veterans working with disabled vets. More information about the organization can be found at HorsesHelp.org.
Even with both of these organizations under her belt, Wilkinson still finds time to be actively involved on campus. While she says this is her most challenging work, Wilkinson claims her involvement with Relay for Life is her most rewarding.
As a member of the entertainment committee, Wilkinson's job is to create activities and events for every hour of the 12-hour relay event, which promotes cancer survivors and the search for a cure. The events include the survivor lap, the track lined in luminarias, bands and live music. The entertainment committee relies heavily on donations, and it is their job to think fast should anything fall through. Despite the stressful scenerio, Wilkinson is excited to join the committee again this year.
"I think we could do some serious damage to cancer," says Wilkinson as she reflects on her past work with Relay for Life. "This year I want that track to be full."
Relay for Life is sponsored by the American Cancer Society and takes place all over the world. Wilkinson described the ways that students can get involved and how the Relay for Life committee went to a convention to be inspired by others who host their own Relays for Life.
"You just have to show up and walk," said Wilkinson as she went on to describe her hopes for this year's turnout.
Her proudest moment seems to come as she described the way the Relay for Life organizers do their "big reveal." At the end of the event, students reveal the donation amount in giant "Vanna White" numbers on the main stage.
To become a member of this year's Relay for Life or just to get more information students can go to www.acsevents.org/relay/az/northvalley or contact Norma Chandler at norma.chandler@pvmail.maricopa.edu.
For help in becoming an active volunteer in your community, students are encouraged to visit the Service Learning office in KSC151A.
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