Delivery! Tolietries for Covenant House!

SHARE leaders James Lin ('12) and Arun Gurunathan ('12) 

with the youngsters and staff of Covenant House.

Thursday, September 24th - SHARE leaders James Lin ('12) and Arun Gurunathan packed their cars full of toiletries collected from a two-month-long Toiletries Drive throughout the NJMS campus. Covenant House, a shelter for at-risk youths in and around Newark, had to cope with recent cuts in its budget and was in need of supplies for the youngsters.

Generous hands from not only students, but from faculty and staff members of NJMS gave boxes of toothpaste, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, and more in an effort to help the youths at Covenant House feel more welcome.

For those who donated, a winner will be chosen at random and be given a prize.

Look out here - and also e-mail and SHARE bulletin board - for the winners!

photos from past events

SHARE waffle sale

SHARE week lecture

Shashi Kapadia (NJMS '11) speaking for PINACLE

ESMP

Community Panel at SHARE week

Emily Fay (NJMS '12) and James Lin (NJMS '12) at SHARE week

Covenant House at SHARE week

SHARE week (ii)

Makes you want to come to SHARE week, doesn't it?

On Thursday, September 3rd, 2009, leaders from 4 different community organizations in Newark were invited to a panel discussion. The discussion focused on topics such as: the nature and goal of the organizations, progress and difficulties of the organizations, and how NJMS students can help.

Doing what we do best: Eat!

Invited guests from the community include:

Casto Maldonado, from FOCUS, a community center offering services for the Hispanic populations of Newark;

Angla Stewart, New Community Corporation;
Teri Bennet, Welcome Baptist Church;
and Gina Butler, Covenant House.

Community leaders speaking to the students.

The leaders shared their experiences in helping the community and encouraged the students that helping those around them, who may not have the same privileges that the students may have, will enrich them personally, an important experience for future physicians. Mr. Casto Maldonado also stressed that as much as student initiative in helping the community is important, studying as medical students and becoming a good physician should be the prime reason and focus. "The community needs good doctors", he said.

Shashi Kapadia (NJMS '13) and Nelson Chiu (NJMS '12)

James Lin, assistant director and community resource, and Emily Fay, secretary and event organizer of SHARE, led the panel discussion.

Emily Fay (NJMS '12) and James Lin (NJMS '12)

The panel discussion lasted about an hour, and raffle prizes were given out at the end of the evening. A $10 gift card to Dunkin' Donuts to a student chosen at random, and a $50 certificate to Mompou was given to one of the three students who attended all four days of SHARE week. 

SHARE e-board and Leaders of the Community

A total of 71 students attended SHARE week evenings at least once. SHARE hopes that many students gained a greater perspective beyond the scope of anatomy textbooks through SHARE week. A good number of students signed up for various organizations and inquired about the activities. The leaders of SHARE hope that the students enjoyed this event. Please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions! 

SHARE week (i)

words and photos by Hailey Choi

Monday August 31st through Thursday September 3rd, 09, SHARE e-board put on SHARE week, a series of dinner lectures designed to introduce NJMS students to the various programs and activities under SHARE. The series started at 5.30pm each evening, in the First-year lecture hall. The first three days introduced students to what SHARE is, and what it does; the event culminated on Thursday, when a panel of community leaders were invited to speak about their experiences and interactions with NJMS. In addition to filling the minds of students with possible inspirations, SHARE week also filled the tummies with free food each night.

Free sandwiches? Yes!

At each session, the students were asked to enter their names in a raffle to win the prize of the night. All 4 days, a $10 giftcard to Dunkin' Donuts was awarded to one lucky student; a special prize, a $50 certificate to  Mompou was given to one of the students who attended all 4 days of SHARE week. 

Puja Shah (NJMS '12) and Carmen Castilla (NJMS '12), leaders of STATS.

Leaders from the sub-organizations of SHARE - SFHCC, New Moms, SSS, REACH, STATS, PINACLE, ESMP - as well as the Voices of Share non-credit elective, were invited to briefly introduce their organizations. The leaders emphasized their personal gains from their experiences and how new students can get involved. 

STATS T-shirts, AIDS pins, and chocolate and condoms to take home.

A few upperclassmen were invited to talk as well. Chinmoy Bhate, a 4th-year director of SFHCC, gave a behind-the-scenes look at the student clinic. Shashi Kapadia, a 3rd-year leader of PINACLE, also described the functions of PINACLE. 

Dr. A. Natale-Pereira, faculty advisor of SHARE, was also present on the first evening. She enjoyed the presentations and engaged the students in the audience to share their experiences involving the community. She encourage students that now is a great opportunity to get involved. 

Students learn about SHARE.

The lectures lasted for about 1 hour each night, giving the students some break-time from their studies and providing nourishment. James Lin (NJMS '12) and Emily Fay (NJMS '12), two organizers of SHARE week, hope that the students were inspired, not only with free goodies, but with a wealth of resources that SHARE has to offer.

(report continued in following post)

First-year students with STATS T-shirts and smiles.

SHARE waffle sale

words and photos by Hailey Choi

How good do these waffles look?

SHARE opened a waffle sale on C-level of MSB, by the escalators, on Wednesday, September 2, 2009. SHARE leaders began preparing for the sale at 7.30am, and started cooking at 8am. The sale ran until 1pm. Smells of freshly cooked waffles permeated the building, and many generous hands exchanged monetary donations for some toasty Belgian waffles and unlimited toppings of fruit, icecream, syrup, chocolate, and more.

Ever heard of waffle cheers? It's yummy.

The waffle sale was held as a fundraiser for SHARE activities. Although SHARE is funded generously by the Student Council and the Dean's fund, some regulations do not allow students to buy gifts for the community, pay for transportation of Firehouse children that STATS works with, etc. The money raised will also be used to cover emergency situations (this summer, the SHARE petty cash was used to pay for transportation for Cares Day).

Previous fundraiser events - from bake sales and coffeehouses - were used for other purposes, including buying flu vaccines for patients at the student clinic and sending clinic directors to a convention.

Fruit and bagels were offered as well

More fundraiser activities for SHARE and its sub-organizations are in the making. Please be on the look-out for more updates and enjoy the goodness of SHARE.

Pauline at the waffle press!