Free ultrasound event at West Kentucky Community and Technical College scheduled to help stock campus food pantry

For the third year, the student-led Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) club at West Kentucky Community and Technical College is holding the Sound Off for Hunger Food Drive to benefit the food pantry on campus. In exchange for donated food items, community members can receive a free non-diagnostic ultrasound exam performed by students. The event will take place November 16 in the Allied Health Building from 8 AM to 3 PM with no appointment needed. 

A news release from the college states that students will be conducting abdominal, obstetric, and vascular exams. Anyone wanting an obstetrics exam will need to have had a normal ultrasound previously along with a note from their doctor authorizing the scan. All volunteer participants will have to sign consent forms and the event will require masks for all participants. 

According to Kim Savage, assistant dean of nursing and allied health and DMS clinical coordinator, the event is a benefit to both the students conducting the exams and students on campus facing food insecurity. "This is our third food drive to help stock the college's food pantry, not only to provide assistance to our students during Thanksgiving, but whenever pantry items are needed," Savage said. "Under the supervision of faculty, DMS students will scan the anatomy of volunteers, making this hands-on activity an excellent learning opportunity for our students."

The donation items being requested are canned foods and other pantry staples such as peanut butter and jelly, along with toiletries, paper products, and laundry and dish soaps. Patient volunteers are asked to bring at least one item to donate.