For the fourth consecutive year, Marian University’s Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCOM) students rolled up their sleeves July 30, not in a clinic or classroom, but around the homes of older adults across northwest Indianapolis. In partnership with Home Repairs for Good, a dedicated nonprofit, students offered free repairs in their Day of Service to low-income senior homeowners, ensuring that they remain in their homes.
“This is important because such a big part of this is service and such a big part of becoming a physician is serving others,” said Beatric Cren Colalillo ’29. “We’re working with people who need help; they’ve been through a lot and want to remain in their homes, so I believe we have a responsibility to assist our neighbors, especially right near Marian.”
And that’s precisely the goal. The unique collaboration aims to revitalize neighborhoods while fostering intergenerational connections. The initiative’s impacts are visible: repaired porches, removed brush and debris around the homes, and smiles on the homeowners who know their homes are safer. Former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard summed it up like this:
“It’s a good reminder of who the students are really trying to help,” Ballard continued. “And the less fortunate, a lot of times, need a little bit more help than others, so it's a good lesson, not just for them, but for the community that students are going to school, are giving back in lots of ways.”
The outside cleaning, hammering, and sanding on the northwest side of Indy isn’t just about nails and paint. For Marian University WCOM students and Home Repairs for Good, it’s about building a healthier, safer community, one home at a time, guided by the healing hands and open hearts of a new generation of physicians.
Learn more about Home Repairs for Good or visit the Tom and Julie Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine.