Ververs Helps Raise Nearly $1200 for West Reading Disaster Recovery

Alvernia University Occupational Therapy student, Hannah Ververs of Mount Tabor, along with Dr. Gregory Chown’s OT 526 class raised nearly $1200 for the West Reading Disaster Recovery Fund created by Berks County Community Foundation in partnership with United Way of Berks County following the explosion of the R.M. Palmer factory in West Reading, Pa. earlier this year.

“I am very proud of the graduating occupational therapy students, who despite their super busy end-of-theyear schedules, showed servant leadership and upheld the Franciscan values to help others in a time of great need,” said Dr. Gregory Chown, associate professor of occupational therapy.

The students, including Ververs, collaborated to spread the word by attending the West Reading Farmer’s Market, setting up a table at Alvernia University’s cafeteria and using “bingo cards” on social media to incentivize donations.

The fund’s purpose is to provide aid to members of the community who were affected by the tragedy and has reached nearly $1,000,000 in donations.

“It is an honor to be a leader in this effort and be able to work with all of my cohort in the final weeks before graduation to support and give back to our community in a time of need,” said Lindsay Eckhoff, MSOT ‘22.

Alvernia University is a Catholic comprehensive university with a liberal arts foundation founded by the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters in 1958.