 Mattie Robertson visits with residents. |
A group of Drake University pharmacy students volunteered to help residents from Calvin Manor, a retirement community in Des Moines’ Beaverdale Neighborhood, at the Beaverdale Fall Festival Parade this month.
The students volunteered to help the retired residents as part of a geriatric service learning experience through the Drake pharmacy program.
The students assisted by helping residents, many of whom are in wheelchairs, to get to the curb to enjoy the parade and back to Calvin.
During the parade, the students also visited with residents and helped them to retrieve candy from the parade floats.
 Rachel Herrild gives Calvin residents candy from the parade. |
“Taking a few hours out of your day to help someone is always a worthwhile experience,” Herrild said.
“I learned many new things about the elderly population during the Beaverdale parade and would gladly volunteer for this experience again. The happiness on the residents’ faces to have us there was enough to bring join to my day!”
The students, who are in their first year of the Professional Pharmacy Program, were:
- Rachel Herrild of Menominee, Mich.
- Mattie Robertson of Dallas City, Ill.
- Andy Wehrhan of Webster City, Iowa
- Jenna Denman of Lake Villa, Ill.
- Dan Ricci of Iowa City, Iowa
- Nick Dahlke of Waconia, Minn.
- Nick Skibba of Germantown, Wis.
- Jessica Poehls of Hartland, Wis.
- Ross Hogan of Pella, Iowa