Summer 2025 Newsletter
Summer is here, and we have lots to share with you! Our Outreach team is hard at work making sure community members who might not know about our services can connect with us; we're celebrating our volunteers and patient successes, and Sylvie's Corner has some tips for beating the heat and reducing stress.
Bringing Care to the Community
By Susan Josephson, Community Outreach Coordinator
At Volunteers In Medicine, our mission goes beyond the walls of the clinic—we believe healthcare should meet people where they are. As the clinic’s new Community Outreach Coordinator, I’ve had the privilege over the past several months of representing our organization throughout the community, connecting with individuals who may not otherwise have access to care.
Whether at health fairs, swap meets, college campuses, food distribution locations, or homeless outreach events, our goal remains the same: to let people know they are not alone and that quality, compassionate care is available to them—free of charge.
We’re grateful to the organizations and community partners who’ve welcomed us recently, including:
Good Shepherd Ministry of El Cajon
Kobey’s Swap Meet
East County Chamber of Commerce
A Healthier Me Health Resource Fair
Grossmont College
Crisis House
Their support makes it possible for us to meet people where they are and build trust in the heart of our neighborhoods.
A special shoutout to our dedicated team of community outreach volunteers. Along with the student group Welcome Home from UC San Diego, they donate their time to speak with community members and offer free blood pressure screenings at many of these events. These screenings are more than just numbers—they’re often the first step in helping someone
understand their health and take action.
We distribute flyers, set appointments, and answer questions to make getting care as easy as possible. Each conversation is a reminder of why this work matters. Everyone deserves access to healthcare, and together, we’re making that a reality—one person at a time.
If you know someone who may benefit from our services, please help us spread the word. The care is here. We are here.
Volunteer With Us!
We have several upcoming opportunities to volunteer with our Community Outreach team. If you're interested in getting involved, please email sjosephson@vim-sd.org.
The VIM Garden needs you!
We are looking for a Volunteer Garden Manager to maintain our community garden. Our garden is a wonderful resource for our patients, who are welcome to the wonderful veggies and fruits year round. If you love gardening, this is the job for you! Hours and time commitment are flexible. If you are interested, please contact Sonya Caruso @ 760-487-8764 or scaruso@vim-sandiego.org.
Thanks to Sweet Relief!
Sweet Relief, a student-led organization at Canyon Crest Academy, recently donated 48 custom care packages to Volunteers in Medicine to support patients with diabetes who receive care at the clinic. Each care package was thoughtfully assembled with diabetic-friendly snacks, glucose tablets, lotion, water, socks, and more, items selected to help patients manage diabetes with
greater ease. The care packages also included handwritten encouragement notes and resource flyers to connect patients with free local support services.
Thanks to generous support from our community, Sweet Relief raised over $500 through student-led fundraising efforts, including a matcha sale that helped make this donation possible.
“Our mission is to enhance diabetes awareness, affordability, and accessibility for all,” said Sweet Relief President Cindy Le. “We’re honored to contribute to the amazing work VIM is doing, and we hope these care packages bring both practical support and a little bit of joy to the patients receiving them.” All of the care packages were designed, sourced, and assembled by Sweet Relief members, from researching patient needs to fundraising, promotion, packing, and delivery.
Diabetes affects more than 38 million people in the US. While the cost of insulin (which has been unconscionably high since the early 2000s) has come down thanks to an executive order signed in 2022, the overall cost of living with and managing diabetes puts a severe financial burden on many people. Out of pocket costs can reach $3,000 or more per year, and that's after insurance covers its part.
Supplies needed to manage diabetes include: a blood glucose meter, test strips, syringes, possibly an insulin pump or continuous glucose monitor, and the insulin itself, along with infusion sets, alcohol wipes (for cleaning injection sites), sharps containers for used needles, and lancets.
"In fact, diabetes care items can cost you more than insulin. Even with insurance, a person can spend thousands per year out of pocket for over-the-counter medical supplies"
Volunteers In Medicine, along with partners like Sweet Relief, works to help low-income and uninsured people in our community to access the supplies, information, and care needed to manage their diabetes - helping them to live healthier, fuller lives.
A patient success story, from Dr. Lu Fan
From Chronic Knee Pain to Pain-Free Living
I had a patient that came in with pain in both knees for over ten years. Her check up revealed a loss of articular cartilage, her knees were bone on bone. She underwent acupuncture treatment and afterwards, she experienced great improvement: The pain in both knees had completely disappeared. She is now able to cook again and is enjoying her life with her family.
Volunteer Spotlight
Volunteer: Rency Mallari
Time with VIM: 7 months
Please briefly describe your role at VIM. What do you do?
At VIM, I started as a part of the New Location/Building Committee, where I assisted with project management efforts – organizing logistics for the clinic’s relocation to a larger facility. I have also helped out with outreach by providing insight into how we could reach more potential physician volunteers One particular effort I initiated was drafting an invitation letter to send out to potential volunteers. Another effort was suggesting a possible way to communicate with patients when tabling at GSMC despite the language barrier. Lastly, I try to consistently communicate with Sonya, our Executive Director, to discuss possible opportunities or ways we could do that can be incorporated within VIM.
What motivated your volunteer commitment to VIM? What brought you here?
My passion for helping the underserved and the desire to eventually pursue a career in medicine is what brought me to volunteer at VIM.
Why do you give your time and talents to support our free clinic?
I have a commitment to improving healthcare access, a value deeply rooted in my upbringing in the Philippines, where medical care is often out of reach for underserved populations.
What impact do you think VIM San Diego makes on our community?
I think VIM San Diego makes a huge difference in our community. They help people who can’t afford healthcare get the support they need, and that kind of care can truly change lives. It’s not just about treating illness — it’s about making people feel seen, valued, and cared for. The volunteers give their time and skills because they genuinely want to help, and that kind of kindness spreads. It makes our whole community stronger and more connected.
Do you have any personal stories that you would like to share as a result of working with VIM?
The first time I volunteered to help at the GSMC tabling event, I had the chance to interact with patients and help take their vitals. Even though there was a language barrier, I still felt a strong human connection. It reminded me that compassion goes beyond words. VIM has helped me feel like I’m part of something bigger—something truly meaningful. It’s given me a deep sense of purpose.
Are there other areas or programs that you would like to see us include in the future?
One idea might be to expand outreach programs to connect with more underserved communities—maybe through mobile clinics or partnerships with local organizations. It would also be great to offer more preventative care education, like workshops on nutrition, mental health, or chronic disease management. I think anything that empowers patients and helps them feel more in control of their health would be a powerful addition to what VIM already does so well.
Sylvie's Corner
Summer is here, and the time is right! If you're going out dancing in the street, be sure to follow the guidelines for surviving the heat!
Wear sunscreen, and sunglasses. Even on a partly cloudy day, the sun can do some damage to your skin and eyes. We hear a lot about the benefits of sunscreen, but not as much about the need to protect your eyes. Do both!
Hydrate. Drink water, or things with more water than sugar in them (mmm, iced tea anyone?) While flavored waters are tempting, some of them contain enough sugar to choke a hummingbird. Try a slice of cucumber & some mint leaves, or slice up fresh fruit and add that to your water.
Know the signs of heat stroke and heat exhaustion. The CDC has a series of tips on coping with hot weather here. And don't forget about pets! Make sure they have plenty of water, don't leave your pet in a hot car, and if you're walking your dog - check the sidewalk for heat by resting the back of your hand against the concrete. If it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for their paws.
