CHAMPS Volunteers: The Heart of Compassion and Service

SEAHEC’s Community Health Advocates for Migrant Population Services (CHAMPS) Program Volunteers embodied compassion, empathy, and kindness. Their giving heart was present each day, and they constantly asked for how they could help guests. They were more than volunteers, they were a listening friend, giving words of encouragement to guests who endured severe trauma throughout their journey migrating to the United States. CHAMPS Volunteers consisted of 15 licensed providers, and over 30 student volunteers.

The passion for helping others was evident, as providers shared aloud some of their favorite stories when helping guests. Conversations filled the air regarding other opportunities providers shared with each other. The gift of service came naturally to volunteers as they became excited to hear where else they could be of service to the community. The stories of how CHAMPS volunteers aided guests at the shelter are endless. CHAMPS was lucky to have each one of them, they were the heart of the program. We are very proud to see volunteers strive to continue to help others in their communities.

We thank the CHAMPS Program Volunteers for the dedication they granted to thousands of guests at the shelter. CHAMPS Volunteers will always be remembered as empathetic individuals who strived to make a positive impact in the lives of others each day. Even though the journey of CHAMPS has come to an end, this is the just beginning to many students who will one day be our future doctors, nurses, public health professionals, and advocates in health. Our hope is that CHAMPS helped guide volunteers to understand health holistically, that a person is more than their health problems, they have a story, family, and culture that influences each part of who they are. Kindness is the best medicine, and this is what volunteers did for each person they came across.