Rush Ortho Gives Time, Expertise to Chicago Homeless

A very special event occurred last night at the Franciscan House of Mary and Joseph in Chicago. A generous group of 40 volunteers from Rush University Medical School and Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (MOR) foot and ankle section treated an estimated 170 clients of the shelter last night. Volunteers were led by Drs. Johnny Lin and Simon Lee, MOR foot and ankle surgeons, as they distributed new shoes, socks and treated the feet of the shelter residents.

Dr. Lin told OTW, “The most interesting aspect of the event is how something so simple as providing basic foot care and a new pair of shoes and socks can provide excitement and joy to those who need these things the most. The most heartwarming thing is how genuinely thankful each person was for listening to them and giving them attention. It really seemed to have made their day.”

“As a single individual—or even as a single organization—there is no way that we can provide everything that a homeless person needs. But, by performing a simple act of service we can at least take one step in the right direction. Ultimately, we never know what may be the turning point for any of these individual’s lives. Hopefully, the work that the homeless shelter does on a day-to-day basis, supplemented by programs like ours, will increase the success rate for people without homes.”