The month of October is Physical Therapy Month. It is also the month Physical Therapy Day of Service [PTDOS] occurs. The theme of 2020 is We Join Together to Better the World! PTDOS was started in 2012 and your District started participating in 2017. This year PTDOS is scheduled for Saturday, October 10th; however, the week of, before and after are also slated for coordinated participation. This is your District’s journey so far ~
The Northeast District in 2017 embraced the bold and inspirational idea of “What if” that the founders of PTDOS had . Armed with a small table and sign at a local park, a handful of members embarked on the inaugural District PTDOS. The goal was just to be available, engage with community members. We were able to answer questions that ranged from appropriate stretching technique to what all was encompassed by the field of physical therapy.
In 2018, your District partnered with WEAVE, Inc. to assist with their 40th Anniversary Celebration. Our goal was to find a community need and partner with other organizations with participate to make a bigger impact to the community. WEAVE needed volunteers to set up for a Gala, their big fundraiser for the year. We were able to play a small part in decreasing expenses for the event to allow for a larger impact to their clientele. In 2019, your District went big. We collaborated with CSUS DPT class of 2020 whom participated in two community events. The first of the events was Ready, Set, Plant! – which planted tree barriers between the baseball fields and the freeway. The second was volunteering at the Be the Gift 5k which aimed to raise funds for Sierra Donor Services Public Education Department to bring awareness to the state and national Donate Life registries. Another PTDOS collaboration was with the Tri-State PT Conference with a Rippl sneaker drive to help end poverty. Your district collected 70 pairs of shoes, from small baby shoes to adults.
Now for 2020….. there is much need in the world, nation, and all of our communities. The theme of We Join Together to Better the World, is one we are trying to apply. We have scaled back from our big 2019 involvement and moved to smaller ways to make an impact and togetherness. Your Nominating Committee Chair Alyssa Breslin, who is also the Assistant Director for PTDOS, created the service of making greeting cards for socially isolated individuals in SNFs. Her goal is to make 600 cards.
Still for 2020, there is many more virtual and physically distant service project ideas on the PTDOS website that will better the world with togetherness. The Northeast District is large, and filled with talented, strong, and kind members, that make meaningful impact to their communities every day. Whether it be through PTDOS or just simple acts of service or kindness to make your community better, we would like to hear from you. The Northeast District thanks all of its members and potential members for the time, effort, services and kindness you provide.
You are important. The District looks forwards to hearing from you.
Ruth A. LeBlanc
Northeast District of California Physical Therapy
California Physical Therapy Association, Political Advocacy Committee
California Delegate, American Physical Therapy Association House of Delegates
Recording Secretary, Junior League, Sacramento
