Penn Presbyterian Medical Center is proud to have so many staff who are committed to making a difference. Some travel thousands of miles away to provide care in remote areas, some volunteer with organizations closer to home, and others — like the PPMC Cardiology team, led by administrative assistant Bridget Abdalla, CMA — haul an abundance of donation bags and boxes a half a mile down the road to support those struggling with homelessness.
On the first Monday of each month, Penn Medicine provides a check to Chosen 300 Ministries to support their efforts to feed the homeless in West Philadelphia. The ministry aims to bring people of different races, religious denominations, and socioeconomic groups together and to support those in need by supplying meals, haircuts, computer training, GED prep courses, and other services. Abdalla frequently partners with Chosen 300 on “Penn Mondays,” but last month, she decided that she wanted to do more.
She sent out a call to her team to donate their gently used clothing and shoes, as well as unused toiletries like toothpaste, deodorant, body wash, and menstrual hygiene products (often among the most needed, but least donated items), and she was overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response.
Together, the Cardiology team filled more than a dozen bags with clothing and contributed enough additional hygiene products to fill nearly 100 care packages with basic necessities. After dropping off the donations, the volunteers stuck around to prepare and serve dinner while sharing some smiles and conversation with everyone who stopped by.
“I volunteer in different ways throughout the year, but I’ve worked with Chosen 300 many times and really see a connection between Penn and the ministry,” Abdalla said. “We both bring people of all backgrounds together and ‘unify ourselves for the common good.’ I hope that our latest outreach effort helps others recognize how fortunate we all are and the benefits of lending a helping hand.”