Physical Therapist Assistant Club’s Food Drive Helps Campus Pantry

Published 10.27.2017

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Students in Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Physical Therapist Assistant Club harvested a plentiful crop to benefit The Cupboard at Penn College, an on-campus food pantry that assists students and their families.

The club initiated a 10-day food drive to coincide with the American Physical Therapy Association’s Global PT Day-of-Service, observed Oct. 14 as part of the association’s National Physical Therapy Month.

National Physical Therapy Month recognizes the impact that physical therapists and physical therapist assistants have on improving the human experience and the world’s health. The students’ participation in Global PT Day-of-Service joined them with thousands of physical therapy staff and students around the world who volunteered in many ways.



Penn College’s Physical Therapist Assistant Club collected boxes of nonperishable food on campus and at physical therapy clinics across the region as part of the Global Physical Therapy Day-of-Service.The food drive was conceived by the PTA Club’s executive committee and physical therapist assistant student Angela M. Cipolla, of Williamsport, a student liaison to the Pennsylvania ambassador for the day-of-service. Inspired by the worldwide goal of this year’s day-of-service to get the entire community involved, the group held the food drive on campus and at more than a dozen physical therapy clinics, where employees and clients could donate. At most of the off-campus sites, a Penn College physical therapist assistant student is completing a clinical experience.

College employees, students and clinical sites gave generously to the drive, yielding at least 16 boxes of nonperishable food that will help Penn College students experiencing food insecurity.

Opened by Dining Services in Fall 2016, The Cupboard at Penn College supported nearly 380 students and their families last year through food and monetary donations.

“The idea to give back to The Cupboard just made sense to us, since it is right on campus and it benefits our fellow students,” Cipolla said. “We are happy to get the opportunity to give back.”

According to the American Physical Therapy Association, “Making a difference in the lives of patients and clients is what physical therapy is all about. Yet, transforming lives does not stop at the clinic; we reach out to our communities and look for ways to give back.”

Physical therapist assistants are health care professionals who provide physical therapy services under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. They help people of all ages who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their ability to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. PTAs work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health, nursing homes, schools, sports facilities and more.

Penn College offers an associate degree in physical therapist assistant. To learn more, call 570-327-4519 or visit the PTA program during the college’s Fall Open House on Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Penn College has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, a pre-accreditation status of affiliation with the commission that indicates that the program is progressing toward accreditation and may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. It does not assure eventual accreditation.

For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.