Phoebe Lay

Volunteering in the food pantry and the clothes closet is impactful for me because I know that many families in San Antonio are living in low-income households, meaning it can be difficult sometimes to provide food on the table consistently month-to-month. I am inspired by the generosity of donors, volunteers, and full-time staff who serve this community. I hope to continue volunteering my time as a student and a physician as I continue on in my career.

I enjoyed spending my Friday afternoon volunteering with St. Stephen's CARE Center for the first time. During these 3 hours, I helped clean up cabbages, organized pantry items, and helped bag groceries and clothes for clients. Volunteering here is meaningful for me because I believe everyone should have access to food and groceries.

I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to my local community in my role as a medical student. I am also grateful for such a program that promotes public health through free/low-vaccinations for underinsured families. Through the experience, I learned a lot from the nursing student we were paired with and thought it was a great interprofessional opportunity.