Celebrate the opening of the Widener Community Nursing Clinic With a Day of Service

Volunteers give back to promote health education

Chester, Pa. (January 5, 2012) – The School of Nursing at Widener University will be celebrating  the grand opening of the Widener Community Nursing Clinic in partnership with City Ministries on Monday, January 16, 2012 by holding a day of service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which is free and open to the public.

The grand opening of the Widener Community Nursing Clinic and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration begins at 1:30 p.m. and will be held at the Widener Community Nursing Clinic, located at City Ministries (At the corner of 7^th and Sproul Streets, Chester, Pa. 19013).

The event will kick off with a ribbon cutting and few words from Widener University President James T. Harris III, Dean of the School of Nursing Dr. Deborah Garrison, Kwinn Tucker of City Ministries, and Ellen Boyda, coordinator of the family nurse practitioner program at Widener and director of the clinic. The Widener Community Nursing Clinic will than be open from 1:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for tours and free health-based activities including, cancer and blood pressure screening, height and weight checks, eye screenings given by nursing students, faculty, alumni, and staff.

Goodie bags including health sanitary items and educational information will be given out to attendees to promote health awareness.

Participants will also have the opportunity to leave a thumb print on a moral of a tree that signifies the relationship between organizations partnering to grow a healthy community. “Our partnership provides a sustainable, community relationship that allows us to better serve the city of Chester, while also educating and preparing our nursing students,” Boyda said. “With Chester being one of the most socio-economically disadvantaged communities; there is a great need to serve the population in a number of ways. This day of service allows us to do so.” The moral will be on display at CityTeam Ministries.

Currently open Monday and Thursday from 4-6:30 p.m., the clinic provides physical assessments, episodic medical care, and referrals to support groups, along with essential education programs. Such services are offered pro bono, by nurse practitioners and registered nurses, all who volunteer and most of whom are alumni, as well as 17 student volunteers.

If you are interested in volunteering or donating, please contact Marcia Bowers, director of community relations and continuing education, at 610-499-1327 or mdbowers@widener.edu.