Posted: 5/21/2010
Nursing isn’t always as complex as taking vitals or administering medication. For students at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing (JHUSON), providing quality care is as simple as filling a bowl of soup. On May 8, four students from the SON’s Black Student Nurses Association (BSNA) volunteered their time at Our Daily Bread Education Center and Soup Kitchen in Baltimore.
Unlike some soup kitchens, food at Our Daily Bread is served restaurant style where residents are seated at tables and then served. The facility is also run completely by a staff of volunteers. More than 267,000 people were served in 2009, with an average of 733 people per day.
“It was an amazing life-changing experience for everyone who participated,” said SON MSN student and BSNA member Elaina P. Burney. “This volunteer opportunity was a great way to give back to the community in which we live.”
Our Daily Bread began in 1981 as part of the Catholic Charities of Baltimore, a collection of community service organizations and centers aimed at helping the residents of Baltimore since the 18th century. In 2007, Catholic Charities developed a new, multi-purpose facility for Our Daily Bread to serve the community beyond just a hot meal, but to include assistance and guidance to achieve long-term employment, housing, and self sufficiency.