SHAWVILLE
June 19, 2019
Thanks to the generosity of the Pontiac community, the health care students and teachers of Pontiac Continuing Education Centre were able to complete a fifteen-day Humanitarian Mission in San Jose de Ocoa, DR.
During our journey, we participated in six rural clinics and eight community visits these alone brought out 987 people.
Our group of three teachers, four students and a local paramedic was a part of a team of doctors, nurses, paramedics, health care attendants and community members who, during these clinics completed medical assessments, gave out medications (analgesics, vitamins), completed treatments (wound care, urine dips) and gave out clothing, reading glasses and hygiene products.
When we were not partaking in clinics we were working at the local nursing home, soup kitchen, women’s shelter, addiction centre and rehabilitation centre.
Here we had the opportunity to sit and truly interact with the people of Ocoa and begin to understand the culture, their realities and their needs.
Each member of our group filled a hockey bag full of items to donate and during our pilgrimage we were blessed with seeing where these items went.
We saw countless smiles that warmed our hearts and humbled our souls.
The money collected to fill our hockey bags and fulfill our mission came from members of the Pontiac community, friends and family.
It is all of you that helped us reach our goal to participate in the May 2019 Humanitarian Mission.
Whether you supported us during our BBQ, raffle tickets, paint night, pancake breakfast, boot drive, donating items or simply giving us kind words of encouragement.
We thank you! Without you, this would not have been possible.
Submitted by Heidi Hall.
