It seems that time has gone by very fast on this last Service Learning blog post of 2011. The last six months have been so busy with our IRB, project and capstone proposal and the strategic and business plan, that I can hardly believe we are finished yet another semester.
As you all know, I am a volunteer for the March of Dimes. I have already completed over 40 hours of time, so not much has transpired since the last time I blogged about the Signature Chef's Auction. I have only been able to do two things for the March of Dimes since I last wrote. Another large fundraiser is over the November 18 through December 18 time period. This is known as the Festival of Trees and there are several activities associated with this event. Local businesses and organizations decorate trees to be auctioned off at another black-tie affair. The March of Dimes provides the artificial trees in 4 and 6 feet varieties; they also provide the string lights. Then, the groups decorate them in a variety of ways and they are auctioned off after the formal dinner. Before these trees are auctioned, they are showcased in the town center during the city Christmas parade. The fee is $3 per person and goes directly to March of Dimes. Another event is known as Ladies Night and the trees are showcased there, as well. There is one final showing during Children's Day with Santa Claus and then they are auctioned at the gala. The trees can bring upwards of $600 a piece and there are usually about 20-30 trees decorated.
My role was a small one this year since this semester has been so busy. I helped decorate the Women's and Children's Services tree. It was decorated with green, red and gold polka-dotted bows and then gingermen and gingerwomen, cookie cutters and small rolling pins. It was a 4 foot tree and we all pitched in to buy the ornaments. We then transported the tree to the city center. The gala is later this month and I hope I am able to go. I will post a picture of the tree on this blog if I can attend.
The other thing I did was send everyone I knew in my emailing list, facebook list and address book the website for signing the petition for reauthorizing the PREEMIE bill in Congress. I even posted it in our community forum in NR708 Health Policy Analysis and Development. This important bill provided funds for much needed research into the causes of prematurity and birth defects. November is premature awareness month and I hope I did a little bit to advance this important cause.
I can not begin to describe the rewarding feeling volunteering for the March of Dimes provides. I believe that all schools and businesses should promote volunteerism. There are many needs out there to serve the vulnerable populations and the groups with health care disparities. Every day I count my blessing that I have a profession that provides me and my family with health care insurance. I have learned so much during my 10 years with the March of Dimes and it amazes me the dedication the many volunteers demonstrate. I am also amazed at the ingenuity and imagination of the two directors at the local division who make the fundraisers fun and lucrative. All the money raised stays on the Eastern Shore where our local division of the March of Dimes is located. The money helps local families and also educates health care providers in our area. I am very proud and humbled to be part of this organization!
Thank you,
Angie Houck
0958383
Peninsula Regional Medical Center 2012 Team Walk T-shirt
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Signature Chef's Auction Event
Last evening, Wednesday October 19, 2011, was the March of Dimes Signature Chef's Auction. This is the 6th annual benefit held at the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge, Maryland. As a volunteer for the March of Dimes and as part of my Service Learning component for Regis University, I assisted in procuring the Ambassador Family and Fund the Mission Speaker, as well as provided a group of volunteers to help set-up the event and and provide services during the event.
"The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. The March of Dimes carries out this mission through programs of research, community services, education and advocacy" (March of Dimes, 2011).
For me, the service involved a 4 hour planning session where I worked closely with the Eastern Shore Chapter event staff, Nicole Scharf and Wendy Jarrett. These two extraordinary women work diligently to advance the mission of the March of Dimes in our region. They work tirelessly on benefits such as this, to raise funds and awareness regarding the values and vision of this organization. My small role involved brainstorming and recruiting. I was instrumental in providing them with the family who was chosen to be the Ambassador Family this year. Heather Rudd, RN is a colleague and fellow NICU nurse. She has always been a wonderful NICU nurse, but last year she delivered her own premature infant and experienced the parent side of a NICU preemie. She graciously put herself and her family out there to advance the mission of the March of Dimes. Heather told her story to over 200 people at a black-tie affair. Her presentation was exemplary. She gave both perspectives related to being a NICU nurse and being a parent of a preemie. Her story brought tears of both sympathy and joy as her son struggled to survive and eventually triumph to become the robust 1 year old he is today!
My other role was to recruit 3-4 volunteers to help during the event night. Heather helped, as well as Heather Preston and Irene Schultz. We are all NICU nurses and the March of Dimes is near and dear to all of our hearts for various reasons. The four of us helped set -up the room, we were responsible for setting up the Mission table which part of this display is pictured above. This picture that I took was used as the backdrop on the projector screen behind Heather when she spoke! Anyhow, we set up the table and around the room set up the pedestals where mission boards of other families were placed. These mission boards show pictures of infants during their NICU stay and also a most recent picture, taken by families. They also tell a brief story written by the parents. In front of each picture, is a bag of candy, flour, rice or other food that is filled to the equal weight of the baby at birth. It is a startling reminder of just how fragile these infants are, but also a testament to their resilience. In the picture above, you can see a bag of rice. It tells the story of Lily's weight and if the parents had used rice at their wedding (instead of bubbles) they would only have had enough rice for 25 of their 100 guests.
During the event, Heather Preston helped with the wine/ring toss. A $10 dollar donation bought a person 3 rings to chance winning a bottle of wine. Irene was the auction pole carrier, during the live auction she was the holder of the numbered sign boards that directed bidders on the auction item number. I manned the mission table to provide information on funding the mission. We also were able to enjoy the repast with gusto! Excellent food, excellent service to the March of Dimes and excellent giving from many individuals in both time and in money. It was heartwarming to see the dedication of so many individuals.
I learn so much from so many during my service learning hours and this was another great opportunity to see our community's giving spirit.
Thank you,
Angie Houck
0958383
"The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. The March of Dimes carries out this mission through programs of research, community services, education and advocacy" (March of Dimes, 2011).
For me, the service involved a 4 hour planning session where I worked closely with the Eastern Shore Chapter event staff, Nicole Scharf and Wendy Jarrett. These two extraordinary women work diligently to advance the mission of the March of Dimes in our region. They work tirelessly on benefits such as this, to raise funds and awareness regarding the values and vision of this organization. My small role involved brainstorming and recruiting. I was instrumental in providing them with the family who was chosen to be the Ambassador Family this year. Heather Rudd, RN is a colleague and fellow NICU nurse. She has always been a wonderful NICU nurse, but last year she delivered her own premature infant and experienced the parent side of a NICU preemie. She graciously put herself and her family out there to advance the mission of the March of Dimes. Heather told her story to over 200 people at a black-tie affair. Her presentation was exemplary. She gave both perspectives related to being a NICU nurse and being a parent of a preemie. Her story brought tears of both sympathy and joy as her son struggled to survive and eventually triumph to become the robust 1 year old he is today!
My other role was to recruit 3-4 volunteers to help during the event night. Heather helped, as well as Heather Preston and Irene Schultz. We are all NICU nurses and the March of Dimes is near and dear to all of our hearts for various reasons. The four of us helped set -up the room, we were responsible for setting up the Mission table which part of this display is pictured above. This picture that I took was used as the backdrop on the projector screen behind Heather when she spoke! Anyhow, we set up the table and around the room set up the pedestals where mission boards of other families were placed. These mission boards show pictures of infants during their NICU stay and also a most recent picture, taken by families. They also tell a brief story written by the parents. In front of each picture, is a bag of candy, flour, rice or other food that is filled to the equal weight of the baby at birth. It is a startling reminder of just how fragile these infants are, but also a testament to their resilience. In the picture above, you can see a bag of rice. It tells the story of Lily's weight and if the parents had used rice at their wedding (instead of bubbles) they would only have had enough rice for 25 of their 100 guests.
During the event, Heather Preston helped with the wine/ring toss. A $10 dollar donation bought a person 3 rings to chance winning a bottle of wine. Irene was the auction pole carrier, during the live auction she was the holder of the numbered sign boards that directed bidders on the auction item number. I manned the mission table to provide information on funding the mission. We also were able to enjoy the repast with gusto! Excellent food, excellent service to the March of Dimes and excellent giving from many individuals in both time and in money. It was heartwarming to see the dedication of so many individuals.
I learn so much from so many during my service learning hours and this was another great opportunity to see our community's giving spirit.
Thank you,
Angie Houck
0958383
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Falling Into Service: March of Dimes Fall Event
As many of you already know, my Capstone project involves the late preterm infant. As part of my service learning, as well as my personal efforts, I volunteer for the March of Dimes. I have already met the required hours for the course, but since this is a life-long committment to this group, I will continue to log volunteer hours for the March of Dimes.
My mid-term service learning posting for this deadline will be short, since the bulk of the work for this semester has been in planning the volunteer duties for the up-coming Signature Chef's Auction event that will be held in the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge, Maryland on October 19th. Since this posting is due by October 17th, the event is two days shy of the deadline, but I will write another posting on Thursday October 20th to update on my volunteer activities.
Up till this point, I have been working with Wendy and Nicole from the Eastern Shore Chapter of the March of Dimes to recruit volunteers for this event. Our NICU has also been collecting items for a gift basket to be auctioned off at the event for a silent auction bid. We decided to go with a "Pampered" theme and are putting items in the basket for this purpose. We are asking for donations for the basket. In the past, these baskets have brought $150 to $300 dollars in donations for the MOD efforts. Things like candles, chocolate, gift cards and dinners for two have been donated, so far. Another thing I have done this last 4 weeks, is to recruit 3 other volunteers for the night of the auction. This is a "black-tie" affair and much goes in to preparation for this event. It brings a huge amount of money to our local chapter that is used for our community. My job has been to recruit and organize volunteers for this event to help with registration, silent auction bid collection, set-up and break-down of the event mission boards and I was also able to recruit the keynote speaker. She is a colleague who works as an RN in the NICU and who last year delivered a preemie of her own. She will give a small presentation on the two roles she has experienced as a NICU nurse and the mother of a preemie.
So, for this posting, I ask that you all hold tight for the next installment which will describe the activities and learning experiences related to a most wonderful event. In that posting I will be able to describe the joy and pride of giving and serving others and watching my friend speak about her experiences.
Thank you,
Angie Houck
0958383
My mid-term service learning posting for this deadline will be short, since the bulk of the work for this semester has been in planning the volunteer duties for the up-coming Signature Chef's Auction event that will be held in the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge, Maryland on October 19th. Since this posting is due by October 17th, the event is two days shy of the deadline, but I will write another posting on Thursday October 20th to update on my volunteer activities.
Up till this point, I have been working with Wendy and Nicole from the Eastern Shore Chapter of the March of Dimes to recruit volunteers for this event. Our NICU has also been collecting items for a gift basket to be auctioned off at the event for a silent auction bid. We decided to go with a "Pampered" theme and are putting items in the basket for this purpose. We are asking for donations for the basket. In the past, these baskets have brought $150 to $300 dollars in donations for the MOD efforts. Things like candles, chocolate, gift cards and dinners for two have been donated, so far. Another thing I have done this last 4 weeks, is to recruit 3 other volunteers for the night of the auction. This is a "black-tie" affair and much goes in to preparation for this event. It brings a huge amount of money to our local chapter that is used for our community. My job has been to recruit and organize volunteers for this event to help with registration, silent auction bid collection, set-up and break-down of the event mission boards and I was also able to recruit the keynote speaker. She is a colleague who works as an RN in the NICU and who last year delivered a preemie of her own. She will give a small presentation on the two roles she has experienced as a NICU nurse and the mother of a preemie.
So, for this posting, I ask that you all hold tight for the next installment which will describe the activities and learning experiences related to a most wonderful event. In that posting I will be able to describe the joy and pride of giving and serving others and watching my friend speak about her experiences.
Thank you,
Angie Houck
0958383
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Marching along.....Final Entry Summer II
D: This summer has moved along at an extremely fast clip. The first semester of the summer included my vacation, so not very much was accomplished for Service Learning activities for the first 8 weeks. Beginning in July, our group of volunteers went about planning a summer fundraiser for August 13th. Sadly, we did not get enough participation to follow through with this event. We did spend some time planning for it, though. I believe a deterent to the participation was summer and vacations. The March of Dimes does not usually have a summer fundraising event, the idea was good, but the timing was bad. We may include this in our fall line-up or a kick-off to the walks in the spring, instead. The objective for me this summer was to get about 5 hours of SL time in active fundraising and community events. However, instead of this I did get 5 hours of time in for planning for the October 19 Signature Chef's Auction and the November 18-26 Festival of Trees week-long events.
E: While I was disappointed that we did not get enough team participation in the "Cornhole" event for August, I was especially thrilled to get to plan for the upcoming events that are a huge success in the fall. The first event is a Signature Chef's Auction where local chef's cook for the event (free) and businesses donate auction items for fundraising. Last year's event raised over $75,000 for the local community. One of the big ticket items last year was Oprah tickets to the last season which netted over $2000! Part of the planning for my piece is to ask local families with premature infants to tell their story via a mission board. The board is a professionally designed with the infant's birth pictures and recent pictures with their names and a brief story told by the family. This story is from the parental perspective surrounding the birth of their premature infant. These stories can be quite powerful. The boards are poster-sized and are placed around the chef's tables. This is a big endeavor as we get new families to do this about every 2-3 years. The boards are used in many of the events. Another of my goals was to increase volunteerism to March of Dimes through the NICU nurses at work. A part of our clinical ladder, community outreach and volunteerism are a huge piece of advancement. Nurses are encouraged to be role models in our community, as well as in our facility. Another fundraiser occurs during Thanksgiving. Local businesses decorate trees and they are auctioned off at a formal dinner party and dance. This event raises monies for our vulnerable preemie population in our rural community. All the money stays on the Eastern Shore to help families with needed services and to help with nursing education. Obviously, this is a diverse population as prematurity knows no social, economic or racial boundaries.
AL: As usual, this SL endeavor has taught me so very much. Planning for these events takes determination, dedication and a spririt of outreach. It also takes ingenuity as everyone is on a tight budget. For example, our NICU has had to discontinue its Preemie Reunion Party for lack of funds. However, together with our facility and the March of Dimes, we are able to bring it back this year as part of the Children's Party during the Festival. Our facility will fund the invitation making & sending, the local community has offered 2 big cakes with candles for each family. If the children are able they can place their candle on the cake to light or their parents can do it in their honor. A local eatery is supplying finger foods. The new craft shop is supplying several crafts and we will honor the Preemies during a brief ceremony. The cost of this entire project is some paper and stamps! With this endeavor I am able to learn more about my community and the services it provides and the services it needs. I also learned during this planning phase about March of Dimes grants that are available to our community. I will be able to write a grant requesting funds to initiate a Preemie Support group or to provide continuing education to our Obstetric, Neonatal and Women's Health patients and nurses. I am planning to continue my volunteer efforts over the course of the fall, am inviting the March of Dimes liaisons to our Shared Leadership meetings to discuss what volunteers can offer the MOD, and am looking forward to writing a grant for education. The March of Dimes is a fantastic organization that seeks to improve the health of the infant and maternal population in our area. As a NICU nurse, it is an honor to give back to such a worthy organization.
Thank you! Angie
Ash, S. & Clayton, P. (2009). Generating, deepening, and documenting learning: The power of critical reflection in applied learning. Journal of Applied Learning in Higher Education, 1, 25-48.
E: While I was disappointed that we did not get enough team participation in the "Cornhole" event for August, I was especially thrilled to get to plan for the upcoming events that are a huge success in the fall. The first event is a Signature Chef's Auction where local chef's cook for the event (free) and businesses donate auction items for fundraising. Last year's event raised over $75,000 for the local community. One of the big ticket items last year was Oprah tickets to the last season which netted over $2000! Part of the planning for my piece is to ask local families with premature infants to tell their story via a mission board. The board is a professionally designed with the infant's birth pictures and recent pictures with their names and a brief story told by the family. This story is from the parental perspective surrounding the birth of their premature infant. These stories can be quite powerful. The boards are poster-sized and are placed around the chef's tables. This is a big endeavor as we get new families to do this about every 2-3 years. The boards are used in many of the events. Another of my goals was to increase volunteerism to March of Dimes through the NICU nurses at work. A part of our clinical ladder, community outreach and volunteerism are a huge piece of advancement. Nurses are encouraged to be role models in our community, as well as in our facility. Another fundraiser occurs during Thanksgiving. Local businesses decorate trees and they are auctioned off at a formal dinner party and dance. This event raises monies for our vulnerable preemie population in our rural community. All the money stays on the Eastern Shore to help families with needed services and to help with nursing education. Obviously, this is a diverse population as prematurity knows no social, economic or racial boundaries.
AL: As usual, this SL endeavor has taught me so very much. Planning for these events takes determination, dedication and a spririt of outreach. It also takes ingenuity as everyone is on a tight budget. For example, our NICU has had to discontinue its Preemie Reunion Party for lack of funds. However, together with our facility and the March of Dimes, we are able to bring it back this year as part of the Children's Party during the Festival. Our facility will fund the invitation making & sending, the local community has offered 2 big cakes with candles for each family. If the children are able they can place their candle on the cake to light or their parents can do it in their honor. A local eatery is supplying finger foods. The new craft shop is supplying several crafts and we will honor the Preemies during a brief ceremony. The cost of this entire project is some paper and stamps! With this endeavor I am able to learn more about my community and the services it provides and the services it needs. I also learned during this planning phase about March of Dimes grants that are available to our community. I will be able to write a grant requesting funds to initiate a Preemie Support group or to provide continuing education to our Obstetric, Neonatal and Women's Health patients and nurses. I am planning to continue my volunteer efforts over the course of the fall, am inviting the March of Dimes liaisons to our Shared Leadership meetings to discuss what volunteers can offer the MOD, and am looking forward to writing a grant for education. The March of Dimes is a fantastic organization that seeks to improve the health of the infant and maternal population in our area. As a NICU nurse, it is an honor to give back to such a worthy organization.
Thank you! Angie
Ash, S. & Clayton, P. (2009). Generating, deepening, and documenting learning: The power of critical reflection in applied learning. Journal of Applied Learning in Higher Education, 1, 25-48.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Mid-term Service Learning Posting (June)
For this semester, I am continuing my service learning with the March of Dimes, Eastern Shore Division out of Salisbury, Maryland. This agency, as described in previous posts, is an advocate for the health and well-being of new babies and their families. There main focus is with prematurity and birth defects and to eradicate them in our lifetime. The clients include mothers, infants and families in the communities we serve. The agency is funded by private donations, corporate fundraising and events that bring public and private donations such as the March for Babies, Signature Chef's Auction and Bikers for Babies events.
The experiences for me include assisting in fundraising events. I help out in any capacity in the 3 March for Babies events, plus one other summer fundraiser coming up in August. My duties might include setting up tables, centerpieces, making t-shirts, face-painting, first aid station, clean-up and other duties as assigned. I am totally dedicated to the March of Dimes and have been for almost 12 years. I also represent our unit as a team leader and a speaker at the Light the Night event in November, the national prematurity awareness day. The objectives for my service learning experience are advocacy, volunteerism, awareness and community support.
Sunday, Mother's Day, was the last March for Babies for 2011. It was held at Assateauge Island National Seashore in Maryland. It was a beautiful day filled with sunshine and smiles. Over 250 walkers raised money for prematurity and birth defects research and advocacy. I manned the Mardi Gras table, giving out beads and helping families make t-shirts for the baby they were walking for. I also helped with the first aid station which was right next to my table. Luckily, we only had a few bandaid for blisters patients! Of course, my population is vulnerable because they are infants and children, they are underserved because prematurity is still very much a problem in our country and the world and they are diverse. Prematurity and birth defects know no racial, gender or socioeconomic boundaries. Families are rich, poor, black, white, male and female. We have made headway of preventable birth defects, such as neural tube defects with the widespread use of folic acid, but there are still other birth defects to research that could also be prevented.
The DNP is poised to promote health and wellness as a change agent and researcher. The DNP role is about advancing evidence-based practice in a changing health care climate. We can lead by example, practice by using the evidence and educate by role modeling. I see my role as one of mentor and coach. Already, two of my fellow colleagues are in school to obtain their Master's Degrees and two others obtained national certification in NICU. My mentor is a role model and my goal is to pay it forward!
I plan to move forward with my service learning through my capstone project, which relates to the Late Preterm Infant. I hope to be the local March of Dimes advocate for community awareness to the public, private and health care sectors of our service areas. Thank you for your interest and comments to this blog.
Angie Houck
0958383
The experiences for me include assisting in fundraising events. I help out in any capacity in the 3 March for Babies events, plus one other summer fundraiser coming up in August. My duties might include setting up tables, centerpieces, making t-shirts, face-painting, first aid station, clean-up and other duties as assigned. I am totally dedicated to the March of Dimes and have been for almost 12 years. I also represent our unit as a team leader and a speaker at the Light the Night event in November, the national prematurity awareness day. The objectives for my service learning experience are advocacy, volunteerism, awareness and community support.
Sunday, Mother's Day, was the last March for Babies for 2011. It was held at Assateauge Island National Seashore in Maryland. It was a beautiful day filled with sunshine and smiles. Over 250 walkers raised money for prematurity and birth defects research and advocacy. I manned the Mardi Gras table, giving out beads and helping families make t-shirts for the baby they were walking for. I also helped with the first aid station which was right next to my table. Luckily, we only had a few bandaid for blisters patients! Of course, my population is vulnerable because they are infants and children, they are underserved because prematurity is still very much a problem in our country and the world and they are diverse. Prematurity and birth defects know no racial, gender or socioeconomic boundaries. Families are rich, poor, black, white, male and female. We have made headway of preventable birth defects, such as neural tube defects with the widespread use of folic acid, but there are still other birth defects to research that could also be prevented.
The DNP is poised to promote health and wellness as a change agent and researcher. The DNP role is about advancing evidence-based practice in a changing health care climate. We can lead by example, practice by using the evidence and educate by role modeling. I see my role as one of mentor and coach. Already, two of my fellow colleagues are in school to obtain their Master's Degrees and two others obtained national certification in NICU. My mentor is a role model and my goal is to pay it forward!
I plan to move forward with my service learning through my capstone project, which relates to the Late Preterm Infant. I hope to be the local March of Dimes advocate for community awareness to the public, private and health care sectors of our service areas. Thank you for your interest and comments to this blog.
Angie Houck
0958383
Sunday, April 17, 2011
March for Babies
Today was the 1st of two March for Babies walks on the Eastern Shore. Over 300 people walked for a 5 mile tour of Salisbury through beautiful neighborhoods and through the zoo. Many families walked with their prior premature infants, several of which I cared for in the NICU.
I arrived at 0800 to help set up the tents for the 10 o'clock walk. I was also on the NICU angels walk team. This blog will address some questions about my experience with the March of Dimes.
The people I came into contact with today begin with all the volunteers, including two local universities and their students, the local television and radio stations, the health department and the facility where I work in the NICU. All these people are dedicated to the mission of the March of Dimes, to eradicate prematurity and prevent birth defects. It is overwhelming to see the local community support for such a worthy cause. Next, is my fellow NICU co-workers. There are 18 of us in the NICU and today 10 walked and the other 8 are walking the May 7th march. This is 100% participation and dedication. A truly inspiring group of angels. Finally, the families. I was thrilled to see 10-15 families walking with their babies in strollers and in carriers for the cause. The families were thrilled to see their child's t-shirts on display and were grateful that we came out to support them and their families. Many tears were shed and thanks to the March of Dimes, research can continue to help families who have infants with birth defects or who were born premature.
While the families that came are not direct beneficiaries of today's fundraising efforts, past walks helped them in other ways during their struggle in the NICU. These families would like to give back, so they raised money by walking to meet the needs of the next cohort of preemies on the Eastern Shore. Also, money goes to local community efforts to support those children with birth defects to obtain surgeries or therapy.
Obviously, March of Dimes is nationwide, but our chapter fulfills the needs of this community with many fundraising efforts, plus support of local businesses and other activities.
The best thing that happened this semester is to see the families during the walk and their appreciation of all that we do. Many times, during the actual hospitalization, families are unable to say how much our care means because they are overwhelmed. Celebrating their children through this walk and seeing us NICU nurses out in the community helping on their behalf was very powerful to them and they stated how much they appreciated all we do.
I have learned that I can touch one life in a profound way and that those actions can be multiplied as those individuals pass it on to the next person. Today, showed just how much we can make a difference by seeing community support and action.
I will continue to do my Service Learning with the March of Dimes. The next walk is May 7th and I will be there at 0700 to help set up and to man the tents. I walked today, but may be doing other duties on the 7th. There are many events coming up to volunteer with, including the Signature Chefs Auction and the Bikers for Babies events. I love this organization and will continue with volunteering as long as I am able.
I arrived at 0800 to help set up the tents for the 10 o'clock walk. I was also on the NICU angels walk team. This blog will address some questions about my experience with the March of Dimes.
The people I came into contact with today begin with all the volunteers, including two local universities and their students, the local television and radio stations, the health department and the facility where I work in the NICU. All these people are dedicated to the mission of the March of Dimes, to eradicate prematurity and prevent birth defects. It is overwhelming to see the local community support for such a worthy cause. Next, is my fellow NICU co-workers. There are 18 of us in the NICU and today 10 walked and the other 8 are walking the May 7th march. This is 100% participation and dedication. A truly inspiring group of angels. Finally, the families. I was thrilled to see 10-15 families walking with their babies in strollers and in carriers for the cause. The families were thrilled to see their child's t-shirts on display and were grateful that we came out to support them and their families. Many tears were shed and thanks to the March of Dimes, research can continue to help families who have infants with birth defects or who were born premature.
While the families that came are not direct beneficiaries of today's fundraising efforts, past walks helped them in other ways during their struggle in the NICU. These families would like to give back, so they raised money by walking to meet the needs of the next cohort of preemies on the Eastern Shore. Also, money goes to local community efforts to support those children with birth defects to obtain surgeries or therapy.
Obviously, March of Dimes is nationwide, but our chapter fulfills the needs of this community with many fundraising efforts, plus support of local businesses and other activities.
The best thing that happened this semester is to see the families during the walk and their appreciation of all that we do. Many times, during the actual hospitalization, families are unable to say how much our care means because they are overwhelmed. Celebrating their children through this walk and seeing us NICU nurses out in the community helping on their behalf was very powerful to them and they stated how much they appreciated all we do.
I have learned that I can touch one life in a profound way and that those actions can be multiplied as those individuals pass it on to the next person. Today, showed just how much we can make a difference by seeing community support and action.
I will continue to do my Service Learning with the March of Dimes. The next walk is May 7th and I will be there at 0700 to help set up and to man the tents. I walked today, but may be doing other duties on the 7th. There are many events coming up to volunteer with, including the Signature Chefs Auction and the Bikers for Babies events. I love this organization and will continue with volunteering as long as I am able.
Monday, March 14, 2011
March for Babies Kick-off
Our kick-off events around the Eastern Shore have been a success. At the 1st event, over 120 people were in attendance and awards were distributed for last years fundraising events. The t-shirts were displayed and they were a hit.
We had another kick-off at my facility for team captains and over 40 people attended. The t-shirts were a big hit at this event, too. As a matter of fact, team captains wanted to take them to their areas for incentives. So next year, we are going to make more!!
The picture enclosed is from the kick-off event in Federalsburg. Now, I am gearing up for the walk event on April 17th. We have established team captains in the NICU, Pediatric, L&D and Mother/Baby areas and active fundraising is in progress with candy bars, purchase of blocks dedicated in a child's name and March for Babies donations for the walkers.
Fun times for a great cause!
Angie
We had another kick-off at my facility for team captains and over 40 people attended. The t-shirts were a big hit at this event, too. As a matter of fact, team captains wanted to take them to their areas for incentives. So next year, we are going to make more!!
The picture enclosed is from the kick-off event in Federalsburg. Now, I am gearing up for the walk event on April 17th. We have established team captains in the NICU, Pediatric, L&D and Mother/Baby areas and active fundraising is in progress with candy bars, purchase of blocks dedicated in a child's name and March for Babies donations for the walkers.
Fun times for a great cause!
Angie
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Mid-Term Service Learning Posting
My service learning site is the Eastern Shore of Maryland Chapter of the March of Dimes. It is located in Salisbury, Maryland just down the street from where I practice professionally in the NICU.
Historically, the March of Dimes began as Franklin Delano Roosevelt's project to fight polio. Later, the mission's focus changed to fighting prematurity and birth defects. The March of Dimes current mission statement is "we help moms have full-term pregnancies and research the problems that threaten the health of babies" (March of Dimes, 2011).
The clients are premature infants and infants with birth defects and their families. The March of Dimes provides funds, advocacy and health/wellness programs, such as their folic acid campaign. They also advocate for access to health coverage and were central in the reauthorization of the Childen's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) on a federal level (March of Dimes, 2011).
The agency obtains funding through private donations, fundraising efforts and sponsorships from many organizations. Our facility is a huge sponsor for our area chapter. The Signature Chef's Auction, Bikers for Babies and March for Babies all raise funds via their sponsors and events.
I am called to work for this organization because I see the affects on families and friends each and every day that I am practicing my profession in the NICU. The families and friends struggle to understand why their baby was born early or with a profound birth defect. Many birth defects can be prevented, such as neural tube defects, with simple health and wellness initiatives that many are unable to obtain for a variety of reasons. Socioeconomic, immigration and insurance status plays a significant role in access to care. On a state and federal level the March of Dimes advocates for smoking cessation, alcohol and substance abuse prevention, immunizations, preconception care, prenatal care, supplemental food programs, folic acid use, and environmental/hazard protection (March of Dimes, 2011).
My passion is in advocacy, prevention and research for this wonderful organization. I would like to see preventable birth defects from ever happening and a significant reduction in prematurity. As of this moment, our nation scores a "D" in premature birth rates. That is completely unacceptable in the world's most powerful country.
Currently, I am a supporter, volunteer and professional for this organization. I have been active with the March of Dimes since 1999. I have been a guest speaker twice for the annual "Lighting" event to spotlight prematurity and its impact on the families in our community. I have raised funds and have organized walkathon teams. Currently, I am involved in the kick-off celebrations for the two local March for Babies walks. I have spent over 10 hours making 24 t-shirts with puff paint that are individualized with the baby's name and birthweight, plus a unique design to be displayed at the two kick-off events and the two walks. It has spurred on the family members to join our walk, so I have recruited teams as a by-product of the t-shirt making. All of the babies have been NICU graduates at my facility. I will be helping at both the kick-off events and both the walks. In the next 3 months, I will log about 40 hours of service time to this organization. I am committed to the March of Dimes for as long as I am able to contribute. Along with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, it is my service passion of choice. Efforts on behalf of this organization are seen at the local, state, national and global level. I am proud to be able to contribute!
Angie Houck
Reference:
March of Dimes. (2011). Retrieved from, http://www.marchofdimes.com/
Historically, the March of Dimes began as Franklin Delano Roosevelt's project to fight polio. Later, the mission's focus changed to fighting prematurity and birth defects. The March of Dimes current mission statement is "we help moms have full-term pregnancies and research the problems that threaten the health of babies" (March of Dimes, 2011).
The clients are premature infants and infants with birth defects and their families. The March of Dimes provides funds, advocacy and health/wellness programs, such as their folic acid campaign. They also advocate for access to health coverage and were central in the reauthorization of the Childen's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) on a federal level (March of Dimes, 2011).
The agency obtains funding through private donations, fundraising efforts and sponsorships from many organizations. Our facility is a huge sponsor for our area chapter. The Signature Chef's Auction, Bikers for Babies and March for Babies all raise funds via their sponsors and events.
I am called to work for this organization because I see the affects on families and friends each and every day that I am practicing my profession in the NICU. The families and friends struggle to understand why their baby was born early or with a profound birth defect. Many birth defects can be prevented, such as neural tube defects, with simple health and wellness initiatives that many are unable to obtain for a variety of reasons. Socioeconomic, immigration and insurance status plays a significant role in access to care. On a state and federal level the March of Dimes advocates for smoking cessation, alcohol and substance abuse prevention, immunizations, preconception care, prenatal care, supplemental food programs, folic acid use, and environmental/hazard protection (March of Dimes, 2011).
My passion is in advocacy, prevention and research for this wonderful organization. I would like to see preventable birth defects from ever happening and a significant reduction in prematurity. As of this moment, our nation scores a "D" in premature birth rates. That is completely unacceptable in the world's most powerful country.
Currently, I am a supporter, volunteer and professional for this organization. I have been active with the March of Dimes since 1999. I have been a guest speaker twice for the annual "Lighting" event to spotlight prematurity and its impact on the families in our community. I have raised funds and have organized walkathon teams. Currently, I am involved in the kick-off celebrations for the two local March for Babies walks. I have spent over 10 hours making 24 t-shirts with puff paint that are individualized with the baby's name and birthweight, plus a unique design to be displayed at the two kick-off events and the two walks. It has spurred on the family members to join our walk, so I have recruited teams as a by-product of the t-shirt making. All of the babies have been NICU graduates at my facility. I will be helping at both the kick-off events and both the walks. In the next 3 months, I will log about 40 hours of service time to this organization. I am committed to the March of Dimes for as long as I am able to contribute. Along with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, it is my service passion of choice. Efforts on behalf of this organization are seen at the local, state, national and global level. I am proud to be able to contribute!
Angie Houck
Reference:
March of Dimes. (2011). Retrieved from, http://www.marchofdimes.com/
Monday, February 21, 2011
18 and counting...
In gearing up for the March of Dimes kick-off for the March for Babies, I have made 18 t-shirts for display at the Moose Lodge on March 2nd. The kick-off will showcase these t-shirts with names and birthweights of our local preemies that were born at our facility. Peninsula Regional Medical Center is an avid supporter of the March of Dimes mission, and as an employee of the Medical Center and a supporter of the March of Dimes, it has been an honor to make these shirts on our babies' behalf.
The parents of the babies have given their consent to have their first name and birthweight displayed at the two local kick-off events and the two March for Babies walks. The shirts are individualized with cute designs and celebrate their birth. Our NICU families are all excited about this endeavor and several have committed to walking in the April 17 or May 7 events!
I still have 6 shirts not decorated, so there is still more work to do!
Angie
The parents of the babies have given their consent to have their first name and birthweight displayed at the two local kick-off events and the two March for Babies walks. The shirts are individualized with cute designs and celebrate their birth. Our NICU families are all excited about this endeavor and several have committed to walking in the April 17 or May 7 events!
I still have 6 shirts not decorated, so there is still more work to do!
Angie
Friday, February 4, 2011
T-shirts for Tots
I am very excited because next week we are going to have a parent/sibling arts and crafts workshop for our event kick-off March 2nd. Each year, the March of Dimes (MOD) has two walks on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, one in Salisbury and one in Assateague. These walks are launched with a local kick-off ceremony in Salisbury and one at our hospital facility. I will be helping out with both.
This year, our NICU families who would like to participate and our staff (two of whom have prior preemies, themselves) will decorate onsies with puff paint celebrating the birth of their daughter or son. Siblings will be encouraged to help, too. The onsies can be decorated in any way, first names or initials only, birth weight, etc. They will then be used to decorate our walk tents.
It is so much fun to engage our families in this, especially the little brothers and sisters of these special babies. The MOD is dedicated to funding research for prematurity. This is one way to raise awareness and impact the future health of our babies right here at home.
Angie
This year, our NICU families who would like to participate and our staff (two of whom have prior preemies, themselves) will decorate onsies with puff paint celebrating the birth of their daughter or son. Siblings will be encouraged to help, too. The onsies can be decorated in any way, first names or initials only, birth weight, etc. They will then be used to decorate our walk tents.
It is so much fun to engage our families in this, especially the little brothers and sisters of these special babies. The MOD is dedicated to funding research for prematurity. This is one way to raise awareness and impact the future health of our babies right here at home.
Angie
Monday, January 24, 2011
Contract signed, sealed and delivered
This is my first ever experience in blogging! I am thrilled that I was able to get this far by myself.
Today, I spoke with my Service Learning site coordinator and am so excited that I get to volunteer at a place that is near and dear to my heart. The March of Dimes mission is eradicating prematurity and until that day that every mother is able to deliver an infant at term, it is dedicated to fundraising, advocating and educating the public and health care on the sequelae of premature birth.
I am excited to continue my volunteer efforts on behalf of the March of Dimes. I support their mission and their goals as part of my own practice in the NICU.
Angie
Today, I spoke with my Service Learning site coordinator and am so excited that I get to volunteer at a place that is near and dear to my heart. The March of Dimes mission is eradicating prematurity and until that day that every mother is able to deliver an infant at term, it is dedicated to fundraising, advocating and educating the public and health care on the sequelae of premature birth.
I am excited to continue my volunteer efforts on behalf of the March of Dimes. I support their mission and their goals as part of my own practice in the NICU.
Angie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)