The Pedro Arrupe Volunteers (PAV) held a health and resources fair for the Bronx community at Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on Sunday, Nov. 5.
The fair provided community members with health, immigration, food, housing and legal resources. Attendees were given free flu shots, health screenings and other information in accordance with the PAV’s mission for improving community welfare.
PAV launched its first health and resource fair in 2012 at St. Martin of Tours Church. Since then, the fair has become a yearly tradition. For the past three years, the event has taken place at Lady of Mt. Carmel on 187th Street.
Rosa Broadhead, FCRH ’24, a leadership council member for PAV, said that the fair was impactful for both volunteers and attendees. “The fair is special to me because it brings together so many people to put it on, which is unique,” Broadhead said. “Memorable interactions included those with the health providers who we partnered with as well as the attendees.”
As a multi and interfaith student-led community, PAV engages in direct service projects for Fordham’s Campus Ministry. Director of Campus Ministry Operations Gilda Severiano said that Fordham students should embrace PAV’s community engagement and development goals.
“Fordham is part of a larger, diverse and vibrant community in the Bronx and NYC,” Severiano said. “The Pedro Arrupe Volunteers invite our students to step outside of their normal university lives to meet our neighbors in shared experiences and learn about their lives and the issues that affect their communities.”
The health and resource fair showcased PAV’s aim of sustaining relationships between the Fordham community and its neighbors in the Bronx.
PAV invited local groups to participate, including Part of The Solution (POTS), Bronx Legal Services and multiple health centers.
As a non-profit working to fight poverty and hunger in the Bronx, the POTS station provided information about food benefits and other resources. Bronx Legal Services participated by informing attendees on housing, family, immigration, consumer, education and other non-criminal cases.
The Montefiore Health System gave free flu shots and healthcare information to Bronx community members. The SBH Health System also volunteered at the fair, offering blood pressure screenings and other healthcare resources.
The Union Community Health Center gave away resources, merchandise and informative pamphlets.
Severiano said that the health and resource fair is always held in a church on a Sunday. “It is considered a safe space to obtain information, resources and health screenings,” she said.
Broadhead said that it is important for group members to understand their capacity to make a difference after volunteering at events like the fair. “I’ve learned the importance of reflecting after serving,” she explained. “Oftentimes, our lives become so busy from one thing to the next, but taking time to reflect helps you evaluate the importance of what you’re doing.”
PAV’s website explains its two main components: direct service engagement with Fordham’s community and educating for a faith that does justice. The Common Groups Conversations speaker series explores current issues through the lens of faith and commitment to service.
Pedro Arrupe, S.J., whom the group is named after, served as Superior General of the Society of Jesus in the late 1900s. He is remembered for his commitment to social justice and serving the poor. PAV honors him by carrying out that mission.
As Severiano said, PAV encourages more Fordham members to get involved. The group will engage in another community service project for turkey and food distributions at Amsterdam House on Nov. 18 and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on Nov. 21. A Winter Wonderland Party and Market is also scheduled at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on Dec. 2.
PAV has other upcoming events targeted toward the Fordham community, including Pedro Arrupe’s birthday celebration on Nov. 14.
Fordham students can get involved in PAV events by signing up for upcoming excursions on the PAV Sign Up for fall 2023.
