Submitted Photo Bowl by Reno Pottery.

In January 2020, a group of students and faculty from the State University of New York at Fredonia will be traveling to Honduras to conduct medical brigades.

An artwork fundraising raffle has begun to raise funds to pay for medicine and health supplies that the group will bring to Honduras.

Each raffle ticket is $10. When a person purchases an online raffle ticket(s) at http://fredonia.edu/honduras, they will select the item they wish to win and a ticket will be placed in the bag for the item. The drawing for the raffle winners will be held on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m., at a location to be announced. Direct donations can also be made via the raffle website to support the students’ effort.

Those entering the raffle need not be present for the drawing, but are welcome to attend the class on the night of the raffle and talk to students about their expectations for the trip.

For the medical brigades, the group will travel with Honduran hosts to small rural communities and set up daylong health clinics in a school or community center. Community members are welcome at the health clinics where they will see a physician and receive medication. The group will also provide vitamins and dental supplies to the clinic visitors. There is no cost to the visitors to the clinic. “We hope to obtain a variety of medicine for the brigades – over-the-counter pain relievers and cold medications and prescription medications for diabetes, acid reflux, high blood pressure and infectious diseases,” said Dr. Ted Lee, who teaches the fall pre-departure course related to the trip. The project has been awarded a prestigious SUNY Innovative Study Abroad program grant.

Many local artists have donated items for the fundraiser. The Fredonia Honduras Health Care class expresses its heartfelt thanks to the artists and those who are purchasing raffle tickets and/or making donations for the medical supplies and trip costs.

Participating artists with a variety of artwork include:

SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus Marv Bjurlin, former SUNY Fredonia Police Chief Ann Burns/Snoop Sister Pottery; Paula Coates/Potter at Mudslingers Studio; Lisa Eppilito/Wayfaring Potter; Professor of Visual Arts and New Media Tim Frerichs; James Hoggard/James Hoggard Photography, Ann Janik/Beach Road Pottery; Rhonda Lee/Lee’s Wood ‘n’ Ceramics; Dr. Lee/Potter at Mudslingers Studio; Marcia Merrins/Kniti Griti Works; alumnus Ron Nasca/Owner of Mudslingers Studio; Jim and Pat Reno/Reno Pottery; SUNY Distinguished Professor Alberto Rey; and Amy Snyder and Jacob Swanson/Potters at Mudslingers Studio.

In addition to the artist items, included in the raffle is artwork purchased in Honduras last January during the first Fredonia medical program, including a small wood bowl and a set of pottery done in the Lenca tradition. This past January, the group participated in four medical brigades that saw over 600 patients.

The artworks can be viewed in two display cases, one located in the hallway outside of Science Center Room 122 and the other near the Daniel Reed Library entrance.

The Fredonia contingent will be accompanied in January 2020 by Honduran physicians and translators. Students will perform intake questions, take vitals, observe medical professionals, help dispense medicine in the pharmacy and also play with children while their parents wait to see a physician.

For additional information, please contact Dr. Lee or see the program’s Facebook page: facebook.com/FredoniaHondurasMedical.