WSSU’s Global Understanding class helping homeless for the holidays with actions and words

Tis the season to be thankful and grateful, and one class at WSSU is spreading the good cheer to the less fortunate through actions – and words.

Healthcare Management’s Global Understanding Class will be collecting items for gift bags through Nov. 15 to be presented to the homeless population. The bags will be delivered to the Samaritan Ministry on Nov. 17.

Among the fuzzy socks, toothpaste, lotion and other personal hygiene products in the bags will be a personal note of encouragement.

Dr. Cassandra Wineglass, associate professor of healthcare management, said she mentioned the service project to her Global Understanding class, but it was student Robert Moore who came up with the idea to make it more heartfelt.

“Giving them products is definitely important but giving them motivational cards takes it to another level,” Moore said. “They may not have a home to go to or family, and I think creating these motivational cards are important to let them know you are cared for and people believe in you. It’s a friendly gesture that can brighten their day and help them fight any isolation they may be feeling.”

The most recent lesson in class was on cultural humility, Wineglass said, which fit perfectly with the service project. She described cultural humility as looking within oneself introspectively and putting into daily practice the book knowledge one is learning so that prejudices and biases do not cloud judgment or impact the way one treats others.

“Yes, you can take a course, but it’s also important to have these interactive personal experiences like going to the homeless population,” Moore said. “We don’t know how they may react to us and we don’t know what to expect. But being aware of yourself and your values is very important.”

Wineglass said she hopes to make this service project an annual assignment through her class, which is mostly made up of juniors. The intent is to prepare them as they go into healthcare management fields to check their biases and prejudices at the door when dealing with patients and diversity in healthcare, she said.

“It’s about getting to a place where we don’t automatically judge and take your biases in the room with you,” she said.

Want to donate?
Items being collected include fuzzy socks, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotion, mini deodorant, Vaseline, body wash and individually wrapped snacks. The Social Work Club is donating throw blankets.

Drop off donations at the F.L. Atkins Building, Room 202, between 9 a.m. and noon. The deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 15. You can also add your own personal motivational quote to be included in the bags as well.

For more information, email Dr. Wineglass at wineglasscm@wssu.edu