UNE students host children for the sixth annual Boys and Girls Club Festival

More than 50 UNE student volunteers from Applied Exercise Science; Athletic Training; Dental Hygiene; Health; Wellness and Occupational Studies; Nursing; Nutrition; Pharmacy; Physical Therapy and Social Work recently hosted nearly 50 children from the Boys and Girls Club of Portland.

Some of the children face significant challenges in their daily lives, including homelessness and hunger.

The students offered  a variety of hands-on educational activities that promote a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle. Activities included arts and crafts, teambuilding exercises and learning about healthy food choices.

Prior to the event, the Westbrook College of Health Professions (WCHP) Service Learning Program held a granola bar drive so that students could send the kids home with some filling snacks.

More than 3,000 granola bars were collected and given to the children. The College of Pharmacy collected about 1,000 of the bars through a competition between the students and the faculty/staff.

The experience of visiting a college campus and getting to know college students can be inspiring and motivational for these children.

Twice per year, since 2014, the WCHP Service Learning program has organized student volunteers to offer these events for the Boys and Girls Club.