By volunteering with the Project C.U.R.E. organization, Souderton students from the Interact club and National Honor Society (NHS) had an opportunity to support the organization’s cause and earn volunteer hours during a field trip.
Project C.U.R.E. is an organization that focuses on delivering donated medical supplies to areas and people who are in need around the world.
“Thousands of Project C.U.R.E. volunteers prepare, load and deliver approximately four to five semi-truck-sized ocean cargo containers every week. These Cargo containers are packed with the medical equipment and supplies needed at hospitals and clinics in resource-limited countries,” Projectcure.org said.
According to Interact president Shivan Becht, Souderton students alone were able to significantly aid the organization on a field trip that took place on November 12.
“The students from our school put over 400 hours of volunteer work into Project CURE by sorting and packing the medical supplies before sending them off. Without the Souderton students, it would have taken forever to sort the amount that we did, and the supplies would not get out to the world nearly as efficiently,” Becht said.
For freshman Brinley Gehman, the volunteer experience was an eye-opening day.
“It was really cool to see all of the supplies that we were able to sort throughout the course of the day, and to know that it was all going to help people in need was great,” Gehman said.
According to Becht, the cause is very important. “We tend to take the medical care we have for granted, and don’t even consider what it would be like if we didn’t have the supplies we do,” Becht said. “Packaging and sending off these supplies to other countries is saving the lives of thousands of people.”
According to senior Ainsley Gehman, the amount of medical supplies that were donated was very inspiring.
“I couldn’t believe how many supplies there were for us to sort through, and most of them were items that had been donated by different organizations,” Ainsley said. “I think it’s really cool that so many people and organizations can work together through Project C.U.R.E.”
According to Gehman, the experience was one that she would participate in again.
“I had a really great day sorting through supplies, and I know that Interact is planning on doing another field trip to Project C.U.R.E. again in the spring, so I would definitely be interested in doing it again,” Gehman said.
According to Ainsley, those involved in the participating clubs who did not go on the first field trip should go in the spring.
“I would totally recommend and encourage anyone who did not have the chance to go to this [field trip] to go to the one in the spring. I know that everyone really had a great time,” Ainsley said.
Becht also believes that the trip is worthwhile.
“I have done the Project C.U.R.E. trip twice now and find it really rewarding to know that I’m helping people who really need it while also being able to have fun with my friends doing the sorting,” Becht sai