Serving on the Front Lines of the Pandemic

At the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, Morgan Godvin knew that she could do more to serve others. The public health student was at the time delivering orders for Domino’s Pizza while taking classes at PSU. She knew she could make more of an impact when crisis struck.

Godvin felt a deep desire to return to hands-on medicine as she had once been licensed as an emergency medical technician, but her expired license was useless in Portland. Central City concern, where she had been volunteering, suspended all shifts. She sought an opportunity where she could make an immediate impact and made the decision to move to Tijuana, Mexico.

There she’s volunteering at a non-profit organization called PrevenCasa, working with houseless people, migrants, and people who use drugs, while taking classes online between shifts. The organization provides harm reduction services and medical care, and has now pivoted to partner with the newly minted COVID shelter for the houseless and migrants who often live in crowded shelters.

“I’m able to serve by volunteering in a medical clinic that serves a population in which resources do not come close to meeting need. From potable water and food for our patients, scarcity reins supreme,” she said.

Despite this scarcity, Godvin remains committed to giving everything she can to contribute to the health of the community. But she needed assistance with covering her own personal costs of living as well as help with transportation as she regularly drives back and forth across the border with supplies for the clinic. This is where PSU donors stepped in to offer resources and support.

Godvin applied for a student emergency fund through the University Honors program and was awarded a small one-time-use grant to cover her transportation and basic needs expenses while volunteering. This support has allowed her to remain at the clinic and continue to work while finishing classes.

"This emergency funding allowed me to stay longer and continue doing the work. Thank you for providing me with this opportunity."
The experience has been made a deep impact on Godvin, who plans to pursue a career in public health and human rights law.

“Our health as a community depends on the health of its individuals—all individuals—we are inextricably linked to each other. Nothing occurs in a vacuum,” she said.