VGCC Radiography students help Ronald McDonald House

Students in the Radiography program at Vance-Granville Community College recently completed a service project to help area families with hospitalized children.

The Radiography Class of 2011 started by collecting tabs from soft drink cans for the Ronald McDonald House of Durham , which provides a home for families to stay while their child receives medical treatment at Duke Children’s Hospital and other local health centers. The House receives funds generated from recycling the tabs. Since 1980, the Ronald McDonald House of Durham has provided safe, comfortable and affordable housing options to more than 20,000 families who need a place to call home. Each year, the House serves more than 800 families.

In addition to collecting tabs, VGCC students bought t-shirts from RMHD for $10 apiece, which is the same as the cost for a family to stay at the House for one night, and they also donated various items from the RMHD wish list. On October 7, Radiography students visited the RMHD to serve dinner for the families there. Participating students included Kendal Coleman of Durham, Theodore Wilkins of Franklinton, Cristina Mensaque of Hillsborough, Jessica Hernandez of Oxford, Dana Wilkins of Rougemont, Megan Smith of Stem, Lindsey Stevenson of Warrenton, and Victoria Alford, Deborah Gilliam and Tabitha Porter, all of Wake Forest. Instructor Jennifer Johnson accompanied the students.

Based at VGCC’s South Campus between Creedmoor and Butner, the two-year Radiography degree program prepares graduates to be radiographers, skilled health care professionals who use radiation to produce images of the human body. For more information on Radiography, contact program head Angela Thomas at (252) 738-3517.

Above: From left, VGCC Radiography students Deborah Gilliam of Wake Forest, Jessica Hernandez of Oxford, Cristina Mensaque of Hillsborough and Theodore Wilkins of Franklinton prepare for dinner in the kitchen at the Ronald McDonald House of Durham.