20 years later, MUSHROOM continues to give back to the community
After 20 years of service to the Morgantown community, MUSHROOM remains committed to providing care for those most marginalized in society.
Multidisciplinary UnSheltered Homeless Relief Outreach of Morgantown (MUSHROOM) is a student-led organization at West Virginia University that brings together students who are passionate about serving their community. While the organization is rooted in health sciences, its mission extends beyond the textbooks and clinical training. Open to all WVU students, MUSHROOM offers a way to step outside the classroom and into the community, gaining real world experience while giving back to the community they call home.
The organization was founded in December 2005 after a student volunteered with Project Safety Net in Pittsburgh over winter break. The student returned to Morgantown with the idea that WVU and the surrounding community needed a program similar to Project Safety Net. Soon after, the organization known as MUSHROOM started providing care.
The organization’s mission is to provide basic medical care to the local homeless population.
Amber Ziese, a faculty advisor for MUSHROOM, says the mission for MUSHROOM has stayed the same over the last 20 years but the extent of care and resources provided has changed.
“We aim to show them that we are all humans and that people in the healthcare field want to help them without judgment, Ziese said. “MUSHROOM originally just handed out socks, underwear, and water along with providing basic medical care. Now we try to listen to the needs of this community and bring them things like cooling towels, sunscreen and bug spray. We have also expanded our services to include rapid HIV testing.”
The homeless population can face a numerous amount of challenges when it comes to accessing healthcare. MUSHROOM allows students to meet individuals where they are, both on a physical and emotional level, creating an environment where they feel comfortable and cared for.
“We go on the rail trail, under bridges and wherever we hear there may be someone that needs help,” Ziese said. “This summer we had a man come up to us during rounds and tell us that he has been receiving help from MUSHROOM for 17 years now and appreciates everything we do. It was such a bittersweet moment.”
The care and resources provided is not the only thing that changed in the last 20 years for MUSHROOM. The amount of students and variety of academic disciplines involved in the program has increased.
“I have seen MUSHROOM become much more interdisciplinary since I started. Before, it was mainly medical students, nursing students, and public health students,” Ziese said. “Now, we have occupational therapy faculty and students involved as well as more pharmacy students.”
Jackie Power, a nursing major, believes there is also value for the student volunteers outside of getting hands-on experience. The ability to help better and grow the community in which she lives in, means a lot to her.
“Being able to go out in the community while I'm taking my community class really makes me feel like I'm becoming a part of the community,” Power said. “It means a lot to try to better the community overall by helping those most in need.”
MUSHROOM not only benefits the homeless population and student volunteers but also strengthens WVU Health Sciences as a whole. The organization helps build a community of students and staff who span across different disciplines, many of whom might not otherwise work together.
Jacob Greenfield, a faculty advisor for MUSHROOM, said it’s inspiring to watch students come together for something larger than themselves while making a meaningful impact in the community.
“It is amazing to see so many students from diverse backgrounds come together to support a common goal. These students are making a huge mark on the local community, showing that a small act of kindness and empathy goes a long way,” said Greenfield. “The students of MUSHROOM are true Trail Blazers when it comes to ensuring that the needs of all members of their community are met.”
“When we talk to someone on street rounds and they are telling us about their medical issues, we now have students with backgrounds in multiple areas that can help the students learn to work with each other and teach each other,” Ziese said. “I have had some of my nursing students teach first year medical students how to take blood pressure, and occupational therapy students adjust how someone was using crutches while pharmacy and nursing students observed and learned a new technique. It is helping to create better healthcare professionals.”
MUSHROOM relies on donations to fund supplies and outreach initiatives. To support MUSHROOM, visit the WVU Foundation website and type “MUSHROOM” as the group you’d like to contribute to.
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