June 9, 2014

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Class of 2016 from the College of Nursing and Health Professions visited the Philadelphia Nursing Home this February to practice functional mobility and walking with assistive devices. “During our visit we were disheartened to notice that many of the residents had poor walking patterns as a result of ill-fitting footwear rather than anatomical impairments,” explained Colleen McQuate, one of the DPT students. “We felt strongly that if these people had the physical ability to walk, then they should have the opportunity to do so, and consequently the idea of a shoe drive was born.”

The project quickly came to fruition, and within a month and a half the DPT class was able to collect 150 pairs of gently used sneakers. “It is easy to forget how the little things in life so many of us take for granted can truly impact the quality of someone else’s life,” McQuate continued. “We hope that this simple donation project will enhance the lives of the nursing home residents by affording them greater mobility and independence.” McQuate and her peers from the DPT Class of 2016’s Community Service Committee- Lauren Dennison, Korinne Wenger, and Brian Dougherty- delivered the shoes to the nursing home on May 19.