CHSU Valley Reach Students Make a Community Impact Through Volunteer Service

August 24, 2026

Valley Reach, a student organization at the California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM), recently volunteered with several local organizations to address important health and community needs throughout the Central Valley.

Through three different community service activities, Valley Reach members hosted a blood drive at CHSU-COM, packed lunches for guests at Poverello House, and assisted the San Joaquin Valley Free Medical Clinic and Needle Exchange. These volunteer experiences allowed CHSU students to make a meaningful impact while gaining a deeper understanding of the needs and challenges faced by underserved populations in the region.

Community Blood Drive

Valley Reach students supported the local community by partnering with a Central Valley blood donation organization to host a blood drive at CHSU-COM. The event registered 15 donors and collected 13 units of blood, with the potential to save up to 26 lives.

The CHSU student organization looks forward to continuing this lifesaving community health initiative at its next blood drive, scheduled for October 30th, 2026.

A CHSU Valley Reach medical student stands in front of a Central California Blood Center mobile donation unit during the blood drive at CHSU-COM.
A CHSU Valley Reach medical student holds a pint of ice cream in front of the Central California Blood Center mobile donation unit during the blood drive at CHSU-COM.
Three CHSU medical students sit together while waiting in line to donate blood during the Central California Blood Center blood drive at CHSU-COM.

Packing Lunches at Poverello House

Seven Valley Reach medical students from CHSU volunteered at Poverello House, a Fresno nonprofit organization that provides food and other essential services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness and hardship in the Central Valley.

During their volunteer service, the students made sandwiches and packed lunches for Poverello House guests to receive over the weekend. Their efforts supported the nonprofit’s work to address food insecurity and provide essential resources to underserved members of the Fresno community.

Four CHSU Valley Reach medical students wear gloves while making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for guests at Poverello House in Fresno.

San Joaquin Valley Free Medical Clinic and Needle Exchange

Two Valley Reach members volunteered at the San Joaquin Valley Free Medical Clinic and Needle Exchange, where they assisted clinic staff and supported services for underserved individuals in the Fresno community. The experience allowed the students to learn more about the healthcare needs and challenges faced by vulnerable populations throughout the Central Valley.

The experience gave students an opportunity to better understand the realities faced by vulnerable populations beyond what can be learned in the classroom. By engaging directly with community members and local health care services, CHSU students can develop the compassion, awareness, and understanding needed to serve patients from a wide range of backgrounds.

Two CHSU Valley Reach medical students and three San Joaquin Valley Free Medical Clinic and Needle Exchange staff members wear masks, face shields, and protective gowns outside a mobile clinic.

Through helping coordinate the blood drive, meal preparation, and volunteer support for community-based health services, Valley Reach students are turning their commitment to service into meaningful action. Their efforts reflect CHSU’s mission to improve health care outcomes in the Central Valley and demonstrate how student-led volunteer service can make a lasting difference in the communities these future health care professionals are preparing to serve.