Grace, an incoming senior at Occidental College, was a health services intern at Foothill Unity Center. During her time at Foothill Unity Center, she worked on Foothill Unity Center’s Cafe Bistro Program and immensely in case management work that dealt with health inequity and disparities.
She said, “I helped to do a lot of Medi-Cal and Calfresh enrollment and was involved in those two programs. For a lot of unhoused participants, it’s challenging for them to enroll because you need so much documentation. This work is really important in relieving barriers, so I was really happy with the work I did.”
In her perspective, services such as Medi-Cal and CalFresh exist but come with difficult barriers without the assistance of case management. Working with the health services department shined a new light on these essential programs. She stated, “I think Foothill Unity Center tries to tackle any problems that anyone can be facing on all those dimensions, whether it’s housing, mental health, physical health, nutrition, or access to health services. Somehow, Foothill Unity Center can combine all of that and I was impressed and happy that I could learn from an organization like that.”
When asked if she had taken away any lessons from her experience working with Foothill Unity Center, Grace expressed, “ I think about things that seem simple to us, but thinking about how some people who aren’t as privileged or don’t have access to a higher level of education.”
Grace’s desire to assist others serves as an inspiring catalyst for her generation to give back. The time she has spent with Foothill Unity Center has left an impact on the clients she has helped.
If you or know anyone who would like to intern or volunteer with Foothill Unity Center, please don’t hesitate to reach out at volunteer@foothillunitycenter.org