Harvard Chan community lends a hand at annual Day of Service
Serving meals at a shelter, cleaning up Boston Public Garden, and making warm blankets for kids in need were among the activities that more than 200 volunteers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health participated in on the School’s third annual Day of Service.
Students, staff, faculty, and researchers took part in the event, which included 20 different projects aimed at addressing various social determinants of health. Activities took place Sept. 27-29 and included collecting recyclables at a Red Sox game, preparing meals for people with chronic illness, making cards for residents at assisted living facilities, and hosting trivia at a recovery center. On Sept. 30, the School hosted a Red Cross blood drive.
At St. Francis House in Boston—the largest day shelter in New England—Anna Webster, associate director for video strategy in the Office of Communications, organized clothing donations and set up a clothing donation “storefront” for guests. “I participated in the Day of Service because I wanted to take a step out of my normal work routine and take part in Harvard Chan School’s mission first-hand,” she said. “From the moment I stepped through the doors of St. Francis House, I was immediately welcomed into the volunteer community. The afternoon flew by because we were so engaged with our work.”
Paul Martin, director of administration in the Department of Global Health and Population, donated blood, because he believes “that those who are fortunate to have much should find ways to give to those less fortunate.”
Maddy Kline, a PhD student in infectious disease epidemiology, spent time making blankets for children. “As public health students, we are dedicated to helping others, but our day-to-day does not always involve direct service,” she said. “Being able to make a blanket for a child in need was incredibly special.”
She added, “I think an institution like Harvard Chan School has an obligation to invest in the surrounding communities, and having a service day is an important step in that direction.”
Feature photo: Kent Dayton / Harvard Chan School; additional photos: Kent Dayton, Tracy Sachs, Kate Coffey
