Introducing the 2017-2018 Precious Blood Volunteers: Lota Ofodile

Jul 25, 2017

2017-2018 Volunteer Lota Ofodile


Lota Ofodile was born and raised in Kaduna, a city in the northern part of Nigeria. She moved to the United States to attend college at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. In December 2016 Lota graduated from Canisius with a Bachelor of Science in biology with a minor in psychology. She will be serving at KC CARE Clinic in Kansas City, Missouri for a full year and living at Gaspar Mission House.

  • Why do you want to volunteer?

“’Service of God and others’ is a value that has been instilled in me both from my family upbringing and my Jesuit education. Therefore, I decided that I would dedicate a significant amount of my life to helping others, with very little focus on myself. Also, from my previous (short-term) volunteer experiences, I realized that I really enjoy helping people, especially if the service I am providing could significantly impact their lives in the long run.”

  • Why do you want to volunteer with Precious Blood Volunteers?

“I was really drawn by the mission of the Precious Blood, especially because recently, I have been struggling to improve my spirituality. At Precious Blood, I will be able to grow in faith and work on my relationship with God, while being a part of community and serving the less privileged.”

  • What are you looking forward to about your volunteer experience?

“I look forward to being a part of a family, helping to build a peaceful and loving community with the other volunteers and staff at Precious Blood. Through this experience, I hope to make a significant difference in the lives of those I serve, as well as feel more in touch with my spirituality.”

KC CARE Health Center

Feb 22, 2017

Current Precious Blood Volunteer, Koby Buth, taking a patient’s blood pressure at KC CARE Health Center


The Kansas City (KC) CARE Health Center is an integral part of the health care delivery system in the Kansas City community. As it was formed to do in 1971, the Health Center provides basic health care services to people who cannot afford them and to those challenged with access to care. KC CARE helps keep the uninsured and underinsured healthy!
The KC CARE Health Center promotes health and wellness by providing quality Care, Access, Research and Education to the underserved and all people in our community.
As a Precious Blood Volunteer serving at KC CARE Health Center you will be working at their clinic located in Midtown Kansas City. You will have the opportunity to work alongside doctors, nurses and a dedicated staff taking care of individuals regardless of their ability to pay.  This is a placement for you if you are looking for a career in medicine or are interested in public health.
You can learn more about KC CARE Health Center by going to their website.
Read a reflection by former Precious Blood Volunteer, Lota Ofodile, about her experience at KC CARE here.
Read a reflection by former Precious Blood Volunteer, Jade Bowman, about her experience at KC CARE here.
You can apply to serve as a Precious Blood Volunteer at KC CARE Health Center by going to our “Apply” page.

Welcome the 2014-2015 Precious Blood Volunteers

Sep 17, 2014

by Tim Deveney, Director of Precious Blood Volunteers
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(From L-R) Patricia Wood, Ryan Cornelissen, and Stephanie Schell

(From L-R) Patricia Wood, Ryan Cornelissen, and Stephanie Schell


Precious Blood Center in Liberty, Missouri hosted orientation for the new Precious Blood Volunteers for 2014-2015. During the week of July 20-25, we welcomed three new volunteers who will be serving this year.
Patricia Wood will be serving at St. Paul Church in Crownpoint, New Mexico. Pat comes to us with a wealth of experience during her time working as medical technician, serving at St. Joseph Indian School, and managing a farm in Kentucky and a ranch in Wyoming. She is from Owensboro, Kentucky and has three grown children. She will begin her service at the end of August.
Ryan Cornelissen is now working at Cristo Rey Kansas City High School. Ryan is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a degree in civil engineering and is from Londonderry, New Hampshire. He worked as a civil engineer for the New Hampshire Department of Public Transportation. At Cristo Rey, Ryan will be helping out with the stem (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program, campus ministry, and the music program.
Stephanie Schell is serving at Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Stephanie matriculated from Creighton University with a degree in biology, and comes to us from Irving, Texas. Stephanie is our third volunteer to serve at Truman and will be working with the fresh foods market, the pet partners program, and assisting the nursing staff.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

Engineer builds foundation for life as postgrad volunteer

Sep 8, 2014

 

Vanessa Steger with students from Cristo Rey Kansas City

When Vanessa Steger graduated from Notre Dame in December with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a B.A. in History, she already had a job offer and second interviews with some of the world’s largest companies. But she wanted something more.
“Mysterious inward promptings drew me to the Missionaries of the Precious Blood and Kansas City after attending the Fall Postgraduate Service Fair,” said Steger, who is from St. Louis.
Steger’s volunteer calling took her to Cristo Rey Kansas City (CRKC) where she shares her passion for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with urban high school students.
“I was looking for something immediately after graduation and the Precious Blood Volunteer program had the flexibility to accommodate my schedule,” she said. Also appealing was one of Cristo Rey’s 2013 Strategic Plan goals: Develop and enhance robust curricular and co-curricular STEM programs.
Located in Midtown Kansas City, Missouri, CRKC is one of 26 Catholic, college preparatory high schools in the Cristo Rey Network. CRKC serves a culturally diverse student body with high economic needs and limited educational opportunities. “A school that works,” CRKC offers an innovative Corporate Work Study Program to offset tuition costs where students gain real-world work experience. The school also boasts a 100 percent college acceptance rate.
“These kids really want to be here,” said Steger. “97 percent of boys and girls attending Cristo Rey qualify for the federal free and reduced lunch program. Our student body is about 60 percent Hispanic and 35 percent African American, many of which are first generation immigrants.”

From L-R: Nate Balmert, Nora O’Connell and Vanessa Steger

Precious Blood Volunteers receive a small stipend while living with priests and other volunteers at Gaspar Mission House. As a group, they share morning prayers, dinners, stories, all while developing bonds that will last a lifetime. Community living is a central part of the experience of being a Precious Blood Volunteer.
“Being at the mercy of a bus schedule and listening to the daily conversations of other riders, especially those struggling to find work, puts life into perspective,” she said. “I’m also realizing I can live off very little. My true needs are easier to see when those material extras are unavailable.”
Gaspar Mission House is in a unique, yet safe, environment to grasp the true essence of Kansas City’s engaging community and rich history explained Steger. A couple of blocks in one direction will take you to a nice middle-class neighborhood, while just east is the racial dividing line of Troost Avenue.
“When I talk to my friends who pursued employment straight out of college, I don’t get the feeling that their work gives them joy. I’m blessed my volunteer experience gives me joy every day.” she continued.

Vanessa guiding the Cristo Rey Robotics Team

Most of her eight-hour day at Cristo Rey is spent “creating a safe space” for students to learn. As a STEM volunteer and coordinator, Steger coaches the Robotics Club and supervises seniors taking online science courses. She recently chaired CRKC’s first-ever Science Expo. Filling in as a substitute teacher two to three times a week, Steger also has daily lunchroom monitoring duties. Before the end of her placement in June, she is designing a plan for a city-wide STEM summer camp program for CRKC.
“This experience has given me a way to put my faith into action,” said Steger. “I have had the privilege of learning so many of these kids’ stories and to hear how they suffer in ways I can only imagine.” Through firsthand knowledge, she is discovering that education can break the cycle of poverty in our country.
“None of us have all the answers to life,” she concluded. “Money isn’t everything. Building character and defining life skills are the things that will truly carry you through life. If you don’t quite know what you are looking for, and this sounds challenging and scary at the same time, chances are the Precious Blood Volunteer program is for you. I would make the same choice a million times over!”
For more information on Cristo Rey volunteer opportunities or other Missionaries of the Precious Blood placements in Kansas City, visit www.preciousbloodvolunteers.org or contact Tim Deveney, volunteers@kcprovince.org; (816) 781-4344.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]