UNAC/UHCP Volunteers Invade Children’s Camp

March 2011

The Laurel Foundation, otherwise known as Camp Laurel, provides relief to families and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Daria Smith, staff representative at Kaiser Fontana, has given up many of her annual vacations to work on this project. She has watched children she cared for in camp grow up and become camp counselors themselves. Through Daria, UNAC/UHCP learned about Camp Laurel and began recruiting members to volunteer.

This year, UNAC/UHCP members Priscilla Simmons (Kaiser Ontario), Estela Lazo (Kaiser Fontana), Angela Granados (Kaiser Irvine), Teresa Mulroy (Kaiser Los Angeles Medical Center), and Jay O’Brien (Sharp) were able to participate in the program, including distributing medication and monitoring the general health of campers and staff during camp activities, including campfires, hiking, and arts & crafts. Ankit Shah (a per diem pediatrician at Kaiser Los Angeles Medical Center) also joined the group.

Lisa Stangel, NP, the lead medical volunteer, said, “If it were not for your union network, we would never have had this many volunteers. Last year we had four, and this year we have ten!”  Thank you, UNAC/UHCP members!

--Contributed by UNAC/UHCP member Teresa Mulroy, RN