By Michaela Bishop
Northeast News
August 5, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — The best way to learn about your new neighborhood is to get out and get involved.

Last week, roughly 20 of Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences’ incoming class of College of Osteopathic Medicine students, alongside KCU faculty, worked side-by-side with students from Della Lamb for a fun day of activities. Initially, the students and children were supposed to be in the KCU garden, learning about harvesting fruits and vegetables. However, the rain moved everyone inside Della Lamb’s classrooms where the KCU students helped the children make pico de gallo. The remainder of the Class of 2019 volunteered at agencies and projects throughout the Northeast Neighborhood with their cumulative efforts totaling more than 1,000 hours of community service for that morning.

The partnership was part of KCU’s 19th annual, WE CARE community service day, which introduces the 272 incoming medical students to the Northeast community. WE CARE allows KCU students to get a first-hand look at the multiple volunteer opportunities available to them throughout the Northeast area while they attend KCU. Students helped the children slice and chop the vegetables from the garden for the homemade treat. All the food from this garden goes to the Della Lamb food pantry.

As a primary beneficiary of the garden, Della Lamb is able to supplement its food pantry weekly with fresh and nutritious food options. So far in 2015, almost 400 pounds of produce have been harvested and donated to the Della Lamb food pantry.

Annette Campbell, director of KCU’s Score 1 for Health, said this project with Della Lamb is an essential outreach project for the KCU students.

“The goal of this project is to introduce the kids to healthy foods and to get them more familiar with fresh produce,” Campbell said. “We want them to be familiar with how to cook, plant and harvest the plants.”

Marc Hahn Do, President of KCU, explained that WE CARE is one way of showing everyone the commitment from the university to the community. Hahn also mentioned that since Della Lamb is their, neighbor they are historically committed.

“We do multiple projects each year with Della Lamb,” Hahn said. “We demonstrate good role models when it comes to a good education, good health and nutrition. The students also help with tutoring and mentoring.”

Avery Joseph, a first year student at KCU, said she enjoyed the event because it was a great experience. During the event, students were also able to play games with the children, make bookmarks and read books to the Della Lamb students.

“I’ve always enjoyed volunteering and socializing with the community,” Joseph said. “Who doesn’t like playing with first graders?”