Days of Service
TTUHSC El Paso Makes a Difference During Third Annual Days of Service Volunteer Event
Students, faculty and staff volunteering in the community coincides with National Volunteer Month and the celebration of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso’s 10th anniversary
Over 175 volunteers from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso contributed more than 750 hours of community service during this year's Days of Service event. Organized by the university’s Office of Outreach and Community Engagement, the expanded four-day event, held April 12-15, involved partnerships with 15 community organizations at 20 sites. This year’s turnout was the largest in the event’s history, having grown from 116 volunteers over the previous year.
"This event is a powerful manifestation of TTUHSC El Paso's core values, which include service and teamwork, and it truly reflects our dedication to the community we serve," said José Manuel de la Rosa, M.D., M.Sc., vice president for outreach and community engagement. "By actively participating in volunteer efforts, we not only foster these values among our students, faculty and staff but also demonstrate our commitment to improving the lives of the people in our region. We take pride in giving back to the community that supports us, and we strive to make a lasting, positive impact in our Borderplex area."
Volunteers from TTUHSC El Paso engaged in various activities, such as sorting donations at the Opportunity Center for the Homeless; organizing kids’ rooms and painting the computer lab at the YWCA Transitional Living Center; and assisting with food distribution at El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank. Additional volunteer sites included the El Paso Baptist Clinic Pharmacy, the Socorro Ramirez Community Center, and the Salvation Army of El Paso.
This year’s Days of Service was one to remember, as it took place during the year-long celebration of TTUHSC El Paso’s 10th anniversary. The bond between TTUHSC El Paso and our Borderplex region takes many forms, including outreach, scholarship and research aimed at creating a healthier future for generations of community members. Days of Service is a prime example of the university's dedication to volunteerism, with TTUHSC El Paso students alone contributing over 19,000 hours of community service annually.
This year’s Days of Service was extended to four days to include Saturday, which gave students an opportunity to volunteer without missing classes.
At the El Paso Baptist Clinic, Blanca Austin, a nursing student in the Hunt School of Nursing, took a moment from the hustle and bustle of the packed free clinic to reflect on her experience. “It’s nice to give back to our community,” said Austin. An El Paso native, she will graduate at the end of the spring term.
“I live here and unfortunately haven’t volunteered enough because I’m also in the military. Volunteering has allowed me to see the impact nursing has on our community,” she added.
“There is a desperate need for health care.”
In addition to Days of Service, TTUHSC El Paso is organizing a food drive on campus to benefit Siguiendo Los Pasos de Jesus and the Animal Rescue League of El Paso.
Those not able to volunteer contributed by donating toiletry articles and pet supplies to local organizations at collection bins throughout campus. The student-led initiatives successfully supported various groups, including the Kelly Center for Hunger Relief, Opportunity Center for the Homeless, Humane Society of El Paso, and Rescue Mission of El Paso.
About Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso
TTUHSC El Paso is the only health sciences center on the U.S.-Mexico border and serves 108 counties in West Texas that have been historically underserved. It’s a designated Title V Hispanic-Serving Institution, preparing the next generation of health care heroes, 48% of whom identify as Hispanic and are often first-generation students.
Established as an independent university in the Texas Tech University System in 2013, TTUHSC El Paso is celebrating 10 years as a proudly diverse and uniquely innovative destination for education and research.
With a mission of eliminating health care barriers and creating life-changing educational opportunities for Borderplex residents, TTUHSC El Paso has graduated over 2,000 doctors, nurses and researchers over the past decade, and will add dentists to its alumni beginning in 2025.
For more information, visit www.ttuhscepimpact.com.