Students, faculty, and staff from the Yale School of Public Health fanned out across Greater New Haven on May 8, volunteering with local community organizations as part of the school's annual Day of Service.
In all, 124 members of the YSPH community participated — the largest recent turnout.
This year's event carried special meaning: all nine service projects were with longstanding community partners, each with a relationship of three or more years with YSPH, and five of those partnerships stretch back four years or more.
Volunteers packed diapers at the Diaper Bank of Connecticut, planted herbs and lettuce at Massaro Community Farm, and served at other sites including Connecticut Foodshare, Hamden YMCA Camp Mountain Laurel, Leeway Inc., Mary Wade Home, New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence, and Ella B. Scantlebury Senior Residence in New Haven.
"Volunteers learned more about the Greater New Haven community, experiencing public health in action," said Jason Martinez, MS, director of the Community Impact Lab within YSPH's Office of Community & Practice. One volunteer captured the spirit of the day: "What an amazing, fulfilling experience. It felt very impactful, and I hope to participate again next year."