Veterans Helping Veterans
Project Goal
The goal of the BTG interns’ participation: to help develop the Perimeter as a community environment in which the Veterans can begin rebuilding their lives.
Services and Strategies
- Aided in client intake
- Organized and ran regularly scheduled recreational activities
- Developed a health education curriculum
- Served as another general resource for the Veterans
- Established trusting relationships with the Veterans: In casual conversation, at meals, in daily activities : bingo, trivia, karaoke, nature hikes, arts & crafts, and card games
- Organized health discussions requested by Veterans and staff
- Cardiovascular health
- Oral health
- Smoking
- Physical fitness & nutrition
Personal Statements
“I came out of this internship with a deeper understanding of Veterans, and the homeless and under serviced population in general. It was extremely rewarding to interact with and befriend people I would normally never have had the chance to get to know. The clients at The Perimeter taught me things and opened my eyes to cultural issues that I may not have learned about in any other way. Overall, I strengthened my interpersonal skills and learned lessons that will help me with a diverse group of patients in the future.” -Laurel Garber
“Prior to medical school and my Bridging the Gaps experience, I studied public health from a very academic perspective. Volunteering at the Perimeter provided me with first-hand experience and a fuller understanding of the challenges and rewards of working in underserved populations. More importantly, I spent a summer helping and establishing meaningful relationships with Veterans, while learning life-long lessons that will benefit my future career as a physician. Bridging the Gaps has also reinforced my desire to work in public health.” -Christopher Damiano