NHS board member Manny Rubio shares about his involvement with our clinics and why supporting our mission is more important now than ever.
This week for our Caring for Our Communities online giving campaign, we’re sharing the story of how one of our board members, Manny Rubio, decided to get involved with Neighborhood HealthSource. Our board is made up of volunteers, more than half of whom are patients.
Manny has a background in serving his community through work both in the public sector and at various nonprofits. Before becoming a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service, Manny worked with youth at Catholic Charities and as a social worker for a Puerto Rican foster care agency.
“Much of my prior experience has been in a capacity of serving people,” he explains. He heard about the opportunity to serve on the Neighborhood HealthSource board from a friend finishing her term.
“I felt driven to volunteer for an important cause that would be challenging, and I felt being bilingual and my past work experiences would make me a good candidate,” Manny says. “Neighborhood HealthSource plays an important role in providing much-needed services to the community.”
During his time on the board, Manny says, it has been clear that Neighborhood HealthSource is deeply invested in caring for the communities we serve. “It is obvious to me that NHS staff at the clinics and members of the board are dedicated, passionate, and like what they do. You see it at board and committee meetings, the yearly fundraising drive, and community sponsored events of outreach.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges for everyone. “Now it’s more important than ever that people support NHS,” Manny says. “The pandemic has now created new economic, financial, health and emotional issues for many in the communities NHS serves.” The clinics have made significant changes to keep access to care open for everyone, including adding telehealth services and offering COVID-19 tests at no cost to patients.
“I feel proud and it’s a privilege to be a part of this group,” Manny says of his work with the board. “I’m proud to volunteer to work with a talented group of individuals with different backgrounds, who are dedicated, diverse and working together to oversee that NHS clinics continues to provide excellent services to the residents of our communities.”
