Everyone can use an extra set of hands, even Lori’s Hands. That’s why the Baltimore chapter is excited to have Emily Huang volunteer this year as a SOURCE Service Scholar with the goal of helping more students get connected to Lori’s Hands and learn about our intergenerational service learning organization. Huang, a first-year student at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, is working on volunteer recruitment for our growing chapter and ways to keep students retained in the program.
The SOURCE Service Scholars program offers a unique opportunity for health professional students to connect with community-based partners like Lori’s Hands in long-term commitments that span the academic year. A goal of SOURCE is to encourage other students to volunteer, which extends the pipeline of student help and strengthens the connection to the community organization.
That’s something Huang cares about deeply. Over the next year, she’ll spend 150 hours helping the Baltimore chapter increase its volunteer base by connecting with other institutions of higher education in the area.
“I always wanted to become more involved in the community where, one day, I’ll hopefully be able to practice medicine,” said Huang, who is from Utah and graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in biology.
“I think that one thing that is very unique to Lori’s Hands is the ability to work hand-in-hand and have this long-term relationship with a client. That could be very helpful because you can really establish that bond and see how you’re making a difference in their life and how they personally make a difference in the volunteer’s life.”
Huang brings a volunteer mindset to Lori’s Hands. While an undergraduate, she worked closely with the medically underserved population at her local free clinic and homeless day center. She also has done diabetes research and created a wellness program to raise awareness about preventable chronic diseases that disproportionately impact individuals experiencing homelessness.
Working with Lori’s Hands helps Huang to put into practice what she’s learning about her in classes. Her outreach with other organizations on behalf of Lori’s Hands also has helped her learn about Baltimore’s community, particularly those who are medically underserved.
“I think it definitely humanizes medicine a little bit more when you have that interaction with a client,” she said. “Through volunteering with this program, you’re able to get more interactions and talk to people who are actually experiencing these illnesses.”
For Huang, helping others to get connected to Lori’s Hands is a nod to her grandfather, who lives with a chronic illness. She has seen firsthand how stimulating social interactions can be and how important they are to keep people from feeling isolated and alone.
“That’s something that I want to be able to contribute back to the community,” Huang said. “And I hope to be able to build the capacity for Lori’s Hands, especially the Baltimore branch, so that we can continue having volunteers who can do that for the clients.”
