The School of Pharmacy and Health Professions’ student government offers lunch fundraisers for different Creighton University student organizations when they hold their bimonthly board meetings.

According to Heidi Carpenter, a member of the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions’ student government, these board meetings happen every other Thursday of the month. On Jan. 31 they hosted a lunch fundraiser for the student organization, Jays for Peds. Carpenter explains that this fundraiser benefits Jays for Peds as well as their service projects.

Jays for Peds is made up of physical and occupational therapy students and faculty advisors at Creighton that have an interest in pediatric service.

“The organization is designed to get exposure for students in pediatric practice settings,” Carpenter said.

The organization creates opportunities to interact in an array of pediatric settings and educates the students by bringing in guest speakers who work in pediatric practice or are clients that speak about their experiences. Jays for Peds also provides hands on experience in the field. The president of the organization, Kelcey Smith, says that experience is key when it comes to pediatric care and job placement.

Not only do the students learn about and work in pediatric settings, they do service as well. Last year they won an award for their outstanding service on campus and in the community. Jays for Peds recently did a service project where the members of the organization cleaned different rehab equipment. The students and faculty will be bringing this equipment to the Dominican Republic as part of a service trip Jays for Peds does every year. This year the service trip will take place in April.