MOM Volunteers Give , but also Receive
By Sean Connolly
PHILADELPHIA – The organizers and volunteers at the “ Mission of Mercy ” dental clinic all seem to have stories about how a patient touched them by sharing a life story , giving a heartfelt thanks or just flashing a new smile .
It is clear to me that the volunteers received as much as they gave – maybe more .
I had a different role . I wasn ’ t a volunteer . I was the PR guy responsible for guiding reporters , videographers and VIPs through the two-day free dental clinic . I was concerned about people being turned away , fainting while standing in line or complaining to reporters . In short , I tried to create positive media coverage that would assist the MOM Board in future events .
Interacting with patients was not in my job description . In fact , I never imagined that I would have an encounter that I would eventually share with my kids , colleagues and friends . But I do .
And it all started with a group of nuns – Buddhist nuns , to be precise .
The first morning of the free clinic started before 7 a . m . with hundreds of patients filling the seats at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia . MOM Chair Dr . Gary Davis instructed the volunteers to admit the first 700 patients . The next 300 were asked to stay in line outside , as the temperatures rose . It would take a few hours to find out whether we could serve all of them .
I was concerned about the people waiting in line . Reporters are drawn to conflict and suffering . A Philadelphia Daily News reporter had camped outside with the people in line . She tweeted that they were worried that they would not receive care .
MOM volunteers and Liacouras security staff did everything they could to keep the people in line comfortable . They delivered food and water . There was a portable toilet . A volunteer walked up and down the line giving the patients updates .
Then I noticed the three Asian women with shaved heads wearing matching brown outfits . They were near the back of the line . A gentleman in line was showing them a magic trick with magnets . The young women explained to me , in a few choppy English words , that they were Buddhist nuns from the Chinatown section of Philadelphia .
A product of Catholic schools , I have a great respect for nuns – no matter what denomination . I told MOM organizers that , if at all possible , we needed to treat the people in line for PR reasons . Besides , it would be bad karma to turn away nuns . Remember , we had to do it all over again the next day .
Dr . Davis eventually gave the green light . The 300 people in line cheered when they learned that they would receive care . However , they were warned that it would be several hours of sitting in the airconditioned arena before they would see a dentist . They didn ’ t seem to mind .
By the time the nuns were seen , the patient volunteers who spoke Mandarin were gone . This made it very difficult for the remaining volunteers to make sure the nuns were in the right places for care in the sprawling arena . One older nun was expected to wait on one side of the arena and the young nun was expected to stay on the other side . However , they kept coming together in the middle . This frustrated the volunteers who were trying to keep things flowing . I offered to assist with the nuns and the volunteers quickly agreed .
The nuns refused to be separated . Despite my efforts to get them to sit in their proper waiting areas , they consistently came together . Finally , I sought help from a dentist , Dr . Jie Yang of the Temple School of Dentistry , who spoke Mandarin . He was hesitant to leave his patients in radiology , but I pressed him to talk with the nuns .
He held an animated conversation with the nuns on the arena floor . Finally , he approached me and explained that the two nuns had a spiritual bond and could not be separated . They understood that one needed to visit one section for extensive dental work and the other needed to visit another section for a cleaning . They would not budge . They would rather forgo treatment than be separated .
I made an executive decision – despite having no authority to do so – that the young nun who needed the cleaning could accompany the other nun while she received treatment . If there were time left , the young nun could receive her cleaning . They were grateful . The next day , I was surprised to see the nuns back in the stands of the Liacouras Center . Apparently , the older nun needed further dental treatment . I was accompanying a reporter from the Philadelphia City Paper who wanted to interview patients . I waved at the nuns .
To my surprise , the young one stood up and waved me to come into the stands . I thought , “ Oh no , now what ?” I climbed the stairs and shuffled into their row . The young one held out her hand and simply said “ for you .”
She gave me a bracelet of plain wooden prayer beads , the same kind that they wore on their wrists . They bowed and thanked me for helping them .
To say I was a shocked is an understatement . I have come to learn that the Buddhist prayer beads are traditionally worn around the left wrist and held to recite a mantra . They are similar to Rosary beads in my own faith tradition .
I often think of the women of faith who gave the prayer beads to me . I share the experience with others . Like the hundreds of volunteers at the MOM free clinic , I took the extra step to help someone in need . But it was I who received the true gift .
I encourage PDA members who volunteer at free dental clinics throughout Pennsylvania to share their experiences with colleagues and friends . Everyone who is able should consider volunteering . It is a great gift that you will give … and receive .
Sean Connolly is a senior communications director at the Bravo Group in Harrisburg . You can follow him on Twitter at @ SeanConn _ PA .
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