November 12 , 2004

MGH Chelsea cares for kids

Marisol Coreas, of the MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center, recently noticed many Somali Bantu refugee children from the Chelsea area wearing flip-flops to the health center in cold weather. With the winter months approaching, Coreas decided to hold a shoe drive in conjunction with Domestic Violence Awareness month to recognize that many of the Somali Bantu families left their countries because of violence.

Coreas first brought her idea to Jeannette McWilliams, administrative director of MGH Chelsea, who embraced the idea, and then asked local vendors to donate shoes, sneakers and socks. One vendor even donated a foot measuring device to help Coreas get accurate measurements. She then teamed up with the health center's Somali interpreters, who identified a list of families in need and called the families to have them bring their children to the health center. A total of 100 children from 30 families and several mothers received new shoes at the beginning of November. Coreas still has additional pairs of shoes and socks in her office for future families in need.

"Being a new mother myself, I wanted to do something to help these children," said Coreas. "My hope is to inspire others about the importance of helping those in need."

Coreas, left, and Carolyn Vega of MGH Chelsea
with some of the shoe recipients.