Most people use their vacation time to spend quality time
with loved ones, or check off items on their bucket list, like traveling to exotic destinations or
taking up new hobbies.
But Sharon DeGristina is not most people. Working in NYCM’s
Customer Service department, Sharon has a passion for helping people. A passion that led
her to spending her most recent vacation in Honduras on a medical
mission trip.
“For more than 30 years, I have wanted to
be part of a mission trip,” Sharon explained to a member of the Brand
Management team leading up to her trip. “I’m passionate about giving back
to the community - and it’s my belief that community extends worldwide.”
When approached about joining the trip to
Honduras through the Friends of Barnabas
Foundation (FOBF), Sharon immediately signed up.
The nature of the trip was to provide
medical services to the underprivileged in Honduras. Having raised almost
$12,000 through fundraising efforts, the team was
able to provide service to 789 people in five short days. Services included
distributing vitamins, deworming, providing fluoride, eye clinics, dental aid
and tooth extractions.
"I fully enjoyed my time serving in the vision and dental clinics. The interaction with people was a joy.” Sharon said, recollecting her trip.
"I fully enjoyed my time serving in the vision and dental clinics. The interaction with people was a joy.” Sharon said, recollecting her trip.
Aside from fundraising, there was
additional prep work that had to be done to make the trip as successful as
possible. Sharon explains how prior to the mission trip, her friends helped her
collect Acetaminophen, flip flops and cloth diapers -- all valuable commodities
in the region Sharon was destined to visit.
“My friend Susan and I were responsible
for delivering five of the team’s 30 large duffle bags full of supplies to
Honduras. Those bags contained the donated items along with sunglasses and
children’s vitamins FOBF mailed to us to bring.”
The donated Acetaminophen was especially
appreciated at the Dengue Clinic, where people use the over-the-counter pain
killer to cope with the effects of Dengue
Fever.
But as fulfilling as the work was - it
wasn’t always easy. Sharon’s team - comprised of FOBF staff, Honduran doctors,
nurses, Spanish interpreters and ten volunteers - was on the bus daily by 7 am
to drive
approximately two hours on precarious roads to visit
communities located at high elevations in the mountainous terrain.
In addition to medical treatment
received, the aided communities also participated in
health-related training and educational workshops on nutrition, reproductive health,
hygiene, and malaria prevention. A health committee is established in each
village to promote the program and a health volunteer is identified, trained
and equipped to carry on the role of continuing to promote health and wellness.
When asked about her favorite part of the
trip, Sharon had this to say: “The most rewarding part of this experience was
the fabulous feeling of truly helping people. Receiving smiles, hugs and kisses
on the cheek from people who were truly thankful - that was a bonus!”
When speaking with Sharon about her trip,
she kept emphasizing how grateful she was that her current lifestyle and career at NYCM Insurance allowed
her the opportunity to be a part of this life-changing experience. “Something I
love about NYCM Insurance
is how much the company prioritizes work-life balance.”
Sharon reflected. “NYCM supports its employees in so many ways, including
giving everyone 16 hours of paid volunteer time.”
With her natural affinity for helping
people, it’s unsurprising that Sharon also loves her job in Customer Service.
“I am afforded the chance to speak with many different individuals daily and
share their experiences.”
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