Where are Bon Secours Alumni now? Many Bon Secours volunteers go on to graduate school or work in nursing, education, medicine, law, social work or ministry.
Former volunteers are scattered across the United States and even across the world!
Volunteer Reflections
Bon Secours Volunteers Reflect on Providing Good Help
to Those in Need:
By extending the healing ministry of Christ to those in need, Bon Secours Volunteers deepen their relationships with God, with self, and with others. This striving to build relationships in the Way of Christ lies at the heart of a Bon Secours Volunteer’s commitment to full-time service.
Yet, life as a Bon Secours Volunteer is about much more than serving others for a year. Bon Secours Volunteers commit to learn through their service with others. The following reflections demonstrate how much of this learning occurs when our volunteers recognize Christ in the people they serve. Thus, throughout a year of full-time service, Bon Secours volunteers are able to more deeply explore the reciprocal or mutual nature of relationships built through service with others. Exploring the dynamic of how sharing Christ’s healing ministry with others leads one to receive Christ’s healing ministry from others enables our volunteers to grow more closely to God, to self, and, of course, to others.
“This experience has demonstrated that poverty cannot be equated with ignorance.”
“The knowledge I have gained will make me a more culturally competent physician and help me to more effectively serve my patients in the future.”
I have gained many things from the people we serve, including the best recipes for collard greens, time-tested cures for almost any ailment, relationship advice, and an appreciation for what Baltimore used to be like.
More than anything, I have developed a new perspective on my patients and others like them. Many of them have been written-off or even ignored by their health care providers for being too slow, too sick, or too poor.
This experience has demonstrated that poverty cannot be equated with ignorance. My time with Bon Secours has given me an invaluable window into the lives and minds of Baltimore’s senior citizens. The knowledge I have gained will make me a more culturally competent physician and help me to more effectively serve my patients in the future. I also hope I can use the lessons I have learned to educate other health care providers and to eventually bridge the widening gap between the health care system and the poor in places like Baltimore City.
~ Danielle, graduate of the University of Notre Dame, BSVM volunteer 2006-07. After volunteering with BSVM and serving at the Tele-Heart program, Danielle began medical school.
I looked up and saw a line of people stretching out the door waiting for me
As I showed up to the community health fair, I was directed toward my table and informed me that people had been waiting for me since the fair started. I quickly set up and opened up my booth to begin doing glucose checks. As I finished setting up, I looked up and saw a line of people stretching out the door waiting for me to check their blood sugar. I took a deep breath and got right to work. Three hours and not a seconds’ break later I finished with the line of about fifty people that were waiting to get the blood sugar checked. People continued to trickle in the rest of the day and by the time I was finished, I was exhausted. I felt a sense of accomplishment and hope knowing that I had offered this free service to so many people who needed it and was able to speak to many people about lifestyle changes that needed to take place. This was only one of many days that I was able to offer my abilities to my community. Alexander, graduate of Michigan State University, BSVM volunteer 2008-2009. After serving with BSVM, Alex was employed by Bon Secours Baltimore Hospital and he recently began medical school.
~ Alexander, graduate of Michigan State University, BSVM volunteer 2008-2009. After serving with BSVM, Alex was employed by Bon Secours Baltimore Hospital and he recently began medical school.
Time of Gratitude
My first month as a Bon Secours volunteer has been one of gratitude. Every day I encounter a new experience or situation, be it issues of homelessness, eviction, substance use, or domestic violence. Just the other week, an expectant mother came into the Center to talk to me about her substance abuse problem. We were able to seek out a treatment program for her, and she has come by a few times to keep in touch. She amazes me with her recovery, and I am reminded of how helping can make a difference.
~ Alexis, graduate of the College of Charleston, BSVM volunteer 2000-01. As a Bon Secours Volunteer, Alexis served at an after school program. After her year of service, Alexis returned to school for a teaching degree and now teaches sixth grade.
Bon Secours Volunteers Reflect on Providing Good Help
to Those in Need:
