Gap Year Vagabond

Now a third of the way through my journey to volunteer in every state, I couldn't have been able to do it without your support.  Thank you to all the families who have given me financial support, food, and shelter along the way. Thank you. 

 

Here is a brief overview of the programs that I have worked with over the last two months:

Portland, OR – Portland Blues Festival Medical Tent
Seattle, WA – Habitat for Humanity
Missoula, MT – Poverelo Center for the Homeless
Rapid City, SD – Outdoor Campus West
Fargo, ND – YWCA Cass Clay Shelter for Women
Minneapolis, MN – Habitat for Humanity
Green Bay, WI – House of Hope (John Kuhn’s Philanthropy)
Chicago, IL – Habitat for Humanity
Iowa City, IA – Shelter House
Omaha, NE – Open Door Mission
Lawrence, KS – Habitat for Humanity
Columbia, MO – Habitat for Humanity
Nashville, TN – Project C.U.R.E.
Louisville, KY – Habitat for Humanity
Indianapolis, IN - Habitat for Humanity
Cleveland, OH – Akron Canton Food Bank

TOTAL (including CA, HI): 17

I know the blog is a little behind, but it will be updated soon! I’m trying not to release bland articles, and want them to be funny, entertaining, or at least tolerable to read.  You can read what I have added so far, see details of where I’ve volunteered and some awesome photos of my adventures at GapYearVagabond.com

Next up is Michigan


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After graduating this Spring from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, I wanted to do something unique for my Summer and I wanted to create my own itinerary.

The idea started out with the mission to help people who need it, here in the United States, through as many experiences as possible. What if I could complete this task in every state? I slowly stated to realize that the fantasy of the trip was a very real possibility.

Slowly, organizations started to respond. Volunteering sites. Lodging. Routes. My life as the Gap Year Vagabond is slowly becoming a reality.

THE PLAN

My goal is to share the experiences and stories of the amazing people that I meet along the way, as well as photos of some of the most breath-taking sites in the country. I hope to take those experiences into my future career as a physician (if I am accepted to medical school in the coming months). From my experience, the most successful medical professionals are able to treat each individual as a unique person - what better way is there of developing an understanding people than to meet people from across the entire country?

I hope this experience will help to grow me as a man, as a future physician and as an American.

I will be volunteering in some capacity in EVERY state while working with organizations like the United Way and Habitat for Humanity as well as various homeless shelters, women's shelters, free health clinics, and migrant worker clinics.

I know my impact will be minimal. But it's my hope to share my experiences and the stories of the people I meet to inspire future trips, or to help bring aid to those who need it and are deserving around the country.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

I will be making the entire trip for as minimal of an expense as possible. I plan to live out of my car, and at campsites for the length of the adventure. Any donations will go towards gas, food and campground fees. Anything is seriously appreciated.

If you have any connections to organizations in need of volunteers, in any state, please let me know (see the Contact tab)
If you have any advice or comments, please let me know too!

CHECK OUT MY SITE:
GapYearVagabond.com