OneSLU: Students Help the Healers

03/24/2020

Saint Louis University first-year medical students are offering emergency child care for medical faculty who are needed on the front line to fight COVID-19.

“We wanted to use our time in a meaningful way to help the community,” said Rebecca Cunningham, a SLU medical student.

SLU students studying other health fields ⁠— physical therapy, nursing, public health ⁠— as well as undergraduates in other areas are joining in the effort to help. They have expanded services to include pet care and delivering groceries.

As of Monday afternoon, 62 SLU students had signed up to help with childcare; 50 for pet care and 43 to deliver groceries. Around 74 families have sought help. The numbers of those who offer the services as well as those who need them continue to change.

“Students are volunteering and not accepting any compensation. It’s up to the discretion of the person they are helping if they get any compensation,” said SLU medical school student Joseph Rojo. “A lot of my classmates have been uncomfortable taking any money. Some of us are encouraging those who insist on paying us to instead make a donation to SLU’s Helping Our Own fund.”

The project is part of a larger initiative that engages students from other universities in supporting health care workers.

Students are continuing ways to help and have created this survey for health care workers to share what they need. 

Learn More About the St. Louis vs COVID-19 Assistance Program