By Kevin Martin
On Nov. 25, 2019, members of Academy of Art University’s Campus Safety team joined members of the San Francisco Police Officers Association (POA) to put on a Thanksgiving dinner for patients and family members of UCSF Family House. Located within walking distance from Oracle Park and Chase Center, Family House serves as a home away from home for families of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses by providing physical comfort and emotional support, free from financial concerns.
The POA has been preparing, cooking, and serving Thanksgiving dinner for the past 15 years at Family House and for nearly half that time, the Academy has been an integral part of this partnership, as members of the Campus Safety team have volunteered as part of this special holiday event. This year’s volunteers were Precious Neil, Briana Taylor, Kristina Buendia, and Erica Schactell, who helped serve the dinner guests and attended to their needs throughout the course of the evening.
The POA shared that they received “a number of wonderful compliments” from Family House staff, patients, and families about the care and compassion that the Campus Safety team put forth while volunteering. Both the POA and Family House expressed that they are grateful for this ongoing partnership with the Academy and look forward to further collaborations.