SEARCY — Each year about 2,000 people benefit from a day of hope, a day of help and A Day of Caring. But it’s not only the under insured who benefit. The more than 500 volunteers also benefit from this mission to create a healthy community.
White County Medical Center will hold the 16th annual A Day of Caring from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Ganus Athletic Center at Harding University. A Day of Caring is a community wide outreach program that is designed to help the uninsured and under insured residents of White County.
For Patty and Floyd Rine, volunteering at A Day of Caring is something they look forward to each year. The Searcy couple volunteer at WCMC and have been helping out with A Day of Caring for five years.
“We volunteer at the hospital, and that’s just another thing we can do for underprivileged people,” Patty Rine said.
She explained that on Thursday before the event, volunteers get the school-supply booth ready.
“They get the school supplies together and put them in packets,” she said. “There’s also a booth with underwear and socks.”
Free medical, dental and eye exams are provided by physicians who volunteer their time. Other health care services include blood-pressure checks, prostate exams, Pap smears and immunizations.
For children and teens, the 19th annual Shots for Tots and Teens will be held in conjunction with A Day of Caring. A parent or guardian is required to bring children’s shot records in order for them to receive immunizations.
To help with back-to-school preparations, other services and items offered include haircuts and items such as school supplies, Bibles, children’s socks and underwear, diapers, and personal-care products. Children must be present to receive school supplies, socks, underwear and diapers.
“It’s quite a big production,” Rine said about the event. “It’s great to see the smiles on those faces, and most of them are really appreciative. It’s a very joyful day.”
Rine said there is also a food booth at the event that will provide bags of groceries for participants.
“A lot of children in this state don’t get three meals a day,” she said. “It’s nice to give them something to fill their little tummies.”
Donated items, such as deodorant, soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other personal care products, diapers and nonperishable food items, are appreciated. So are volunteers. WCMC welcomes individuals, clubs, churches and organizations to be involved through collecting items to stock the A Day of Caring Food Bank. For more information, contact Anna Overbay at (501) 380-1057 or aoverbay@wcmc.org.
Staff writer Jeanni Brosius can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or jbrosius@arkansasonline.com.
Three Rivers, Pages 119 on 07/29/2012