SERVICE LEARNING REPORT

Nursing Program Service Learning Report

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Poverty is one of the major issues that any country in this world has to deal with. Currently, one third of the Oklahoma population is enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. With the ongoing cuts in state budgets and increases in unemployment, the percentage of the population receiving assistance is growing larger. Many hunger-relief organizations are working together to help people in need and Food Bank is one of them. Established in 1980, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is a private, nonprofit organization with the mission of helping local charitable communities feed people in need. With the motto of “Fighting Hunger…. Feeding Hope”, this organization provides support in the form of food for children, the elderly, and families who cannot afford food.
The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma acts as the central collection agency for receiving all donation, which are further distributed to the different charitable programs. More than 700 charitable feeding programs in 53 central and western Oklahoma counties receive goods from the regional food bank. Food Bank serves two categories of program: emergency and non-emergency program. The emergency program includes food pantries, soup kitchens and emergency shelters. For non-emergency program provides food for children, senior citizens on fixed incomes, and working families who cannot make ends meet. One out of five children are at risk of hunger everyday. Nutrition deficiency can impact child growth and development. Their physical and social growth will be slower than those children who have adequate nourishment that can hinder them in reaching their full potential or capability. For the children, the Food Bank SERVICE LEARNING REPORT 3 provides food for after school programs like Kids Café, Food 4 Kids, Summer Feeding, and Youth Services. Recently, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma expanded their Kids Café program by opening four more sites that are serving fresh fruits and vegetables. According to Debbie Bell, Kids Café coordinator for the Food Bank, “The new sites will provide kids with nutritious food, tutoring sessions and other recreational activities, which provides them with a healthy, positive environment and will ultimately help them in their future” (David, 2010). Many senior citizens do not have enough to live from their retirement. With utility expenses, medical bills and medications that they need to take, they do not have much left to buy food. It is really sad to see that after all the years of their hard work, they cannot have a decent and worry free life when they retire, however, it is opposite of what they hoped for. They are in a worse situation in comparison to when they were still working. Food Bank also provides assistance for seniors in the community. It is called Senior Mobile Pantries and Senior Home Deliveries. In 2006 Food Bank started “Senior Feeding” serving nine Oklahoma City Housing Authorities helping seniors with their monthly supply of food. Food Bank also helps senior citizens by distributing food through church pantries. Senior Home Deliveries is a program that delivers hot meals to seniors who are homebound due to disabilities, lack of transportation, no family looking after them, and if they are unable to cook for themselves. The Food Bank has also developed a referral system to identify seniors who are in need of the mobile meal program. Through this program, the senior citizens are contacted which lets them know SERVICE LEARNING REPORT 4 that they are not left out and forgotten. With the current unemployment rate in Oklahoma at 6.5%, many families are having a hard time to make ends meet. Parents or heads of households have to make a decision whether to pay the utilities or put food on the table, fill prescriptions or put food on the table; fill up the car with gas or put the food on the table. Many go through this dilemma daily. It is very hard especially for families with small children since every parent knows that good nutrition is a vital necessity for the growth and development of their children. Since Florence Nightingale’s time, the nurse’s role has greatly changed. Today’s nurses are not only working within hospital settings but also within community centers, institution based centers, school facilities, wellness centers. The roles of nurses within the community are to act as client advocates, collaborators, educators, and researchers. As an advocate for patients/individuals experiencing poverty for instance, nurses can recommend specialized organizations providing assistance for people with special needs. As a collaborator, a nurse communicates with various groups or organizations to promote holistic care. An example of a nurse’s role as an educator is to provide information. Many elderly are unaware of services that they can take advantage of and receive some assistance. In the beginning, I chose to volunteer in the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma so I could work my hour without an appointment. I can come, sign in and start working until I complete my serving learning hours, and leave. The morning I began work, I was assigned to label gallon bag containers for distribution of one pound frozen vegetable packages. And in the afternoon, I was assigned to an assembly line where it was my task SERVICE LEARNING REPORT 5 to pack beans and noodles in boxes then push it on to the next person where he/she pack canned fruits and soup. During that time I was accountable to ensure that the correct items are placed into each box. I soon realized during the time spent working in the warehouse just how real it is that many people in America are in need of food. By talking to one of the supervisors, I found out that more and more people need help and donations coming in are decreasing. He talked about the campaign that the organized to raise money to acquire merchandise or donations. Being raise in a third world country where poverty is a daily reality, I never thought that poverty in America was real. Overseas, when someone mentions the name United States of America, everyone thinks of big house, good food, good medical care, and job with good pay while living what they call “the American dream”. With the current economic situation is that many children of poverty are affected. The good side of the situation, it is amazing that many companies and individuals do continuously give food, monetary donations and time to help people in need. There are businesses that are involved by donating part of their profit to the Food Bank. I associate Food Bank with poverty and the nurse’s accountability is not only for patient in the hospital setting but also for the community in general. Poverty is one of the issues any community has to deal with. It is important to do an honest self examination of one’s personal beliefs, values, and knowledge about poverty. There is also a need to understand the issues concerning poverty in order to provide effective care to the people in the community. Nurses should have empathy with people experiencing this situation. I SERVICE LEARNING REPORT 6 can relate to this situation. Because of growing up poor and remember my parents trying their best to find ways to put food on the top. Nurses can be an advocate on their behalf and act as a collaborator in promoting health concerning adequate nutrition. After doing my volunteer work in the Food Bank, as a nursing student became more aware that I am accountable not only for my family and myself but also to the community where I live. It is important to take part helping within the community. I may not be a big help but at the end of the day, knowing I made a difference in someone’s life is a good feeling. Diplomacy is one of the basic requirements in getting along and communicating with the public. It is important for a nurse to have good communication skills in collaborating with other agencies or organizations that support the various communities.

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References

David, P. (n.d). Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma's Kids Cafe program expanding, providing more produce. Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City, OK), Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Pearson, J. (2011, March 13). OPINION: Oklahoma poverty a chronic, unaddressed problem. Tulsa World (OK). Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Pettigrew, K. (1998). The role of community health nurses in providing information and referral to the elderly: a study based on social network theory. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2011, from http://www.regionalfoodbank.org/

Winslow, L. (2011, March 26). Oklahoma's unemployment rate dips to 6.5% in February. Tulsa World (OK). Retrieved from EBSCOhost.