2025 PharmCAT Day of Caring
The R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy community came together once again for its annual PharmCAT Day of Caring, an event designed to strengthen connections, belonging, and community engagement across both campuses. The idea for PharmCAT Day of Caring was introduced last year by Mildred Curran, student services director, after she was inspired by Eller College’s Make a Difference Day. She believed that the PharmCAT community would benefit from coming together in service, not only to make a positive impact locally but also to reinforce the sense of connection and community within the college. “PharmCAT Day of Caring reminds us that when our community comes together in service, our collective impact is powerful,” shares Curran.
This all began last year, thanks to Curran, with support from Jeannie Lee, PharmD, associate dean of student services, and the former dean. After making the case on its importance, the college approved closing operations for two hours so faculty, staff, and students could volunteer. This year, Brian Erstad, PharmD, interim dean, continued that support with the hope of establishing PharmCAT Day of Caring as an annual tradition, remaining strong even as new leadership transitions into the college.
To harmonize the college’s service efforts within larger community-wide initiatives, they hosted this year's event during the United Way Days of Caring and UA CARES. University of Arizona policy affords employees to use up to eight hours of paid volunteer time each calendar year, which also helped bolster participation.
Once the approval was finalized, the Office of Student Services team and Rebecca Urias, administrative support professional at the Phoenix campus, started coordinating service projects across both campuses. Although planning this event requires extensive coordination within the team and collaboration with community organizations, the impact proves worth the effort, as last year’s event was a major success with volunteers bundling more than 2,500 diapers for the Arizona Diaper Bank, writing over 250 cards for Comfort Bears in a Catastrophe, and helping the HabiStore by hanging merchandise, cleaning and reorganizing tables.
This year, PharmCAT Day of Caring also coincided with National Speak Up for Service Day, contributing to an even larger turnout. Organizers hope this will increase participation so that all faculty, staff and students can participate in future years. The chosen organizations this year were Sonoran Prevention Works and Comfort Bears in a Catastrophe. Together, this year’s volunteers assembled 500 Naloxone kits for Sonoran Prevention Works and wrote 54 encouraging cards for Comfort Bears in a Catastrophe.
Sonoran Prevention Works was founded by and for people who use drugs and is driven by a core belief that everyone deserves access to the knowledge, tools, and community needed to stay safe and healthy. The organization pursues this mission across all levels of public health, providing street-based outreach, strengthening service agencies, and advocating statewide for policies that protect the rights and well-being of people who use drugs.
Comfort Bears in a Catastrophe offers hope and reassurance to children affected by disasters by providing each child with a Comfort Bear and a handwritten note of encouragement. Efforts ensure that every child impacted by disaster receives a bear and a message of hope. With this support, no child has to face the aftermath of a disaster without a sense of safety, care, and connection.
In addition to building the PharmCAT community, the planning team invited partners from all the Health Sciences to join in, boosting participation and deepening collaboration.
Curran expressed gratitude to all who contributed their time, energy, and spirit of service, emphasizing that events like PharmCAT Day of Caring strengthen both the PharmCAT community and the broader communities served by the college.