Fairchild dental doctor goes beyond the call to help Spokane's street kids

1997
Originally published by Fairchild Connection (Fairchild AFB, WA)

Capt. Jorge Marquis of the Aeromedical Dental Squadron likes to give back to his community whenever he can.

He is the coordinator of providing dinner meals the first Sunday of each month at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes. The church provides these meal for children at Crosswalk, a shelter for Spokane's homeless children. Crosswalk is sponsored by the Volunteers of America.

"Usually, we get about 30 to 50 kids each month," Marquis says. "My job is to get people and resources to where they need to be."

Marquis has been volunteering as a meal coordinator at the church since November 1995. His duties include seeking individuals willing to serve dinners, developing a yearly schedule of the dinners using the list of interested volunteers, reminding volunteers during the scheduled dinner week, solving problems such as volunteers unable to attend, and giving out information.

"What is important is that the whole program is working to help others," he said. That he is giving help is only a small part of the picture, he added.

"The first thing I have to do is find people who want to give their time or donations. I call people and tell them about the program. Usually, they own restaurants, companies, and establishments. They can help our cause by helping to feed these kids.

"It's a very simple process, but we get a lot of help and food."

Marquis received his commission in September 1995. He said he did so to gain his two-year general dental registry. Prior to that, he ran a private practice in Dallas for two years.

"I think the Air Force gives people a good opportunity not only to give back to the military community, but the civilian community as well.

"There are people in the Air Force that do much more than I do, but it is all a positive reflection on the values we teach our people. It also says a lot about the quality of Air Force people.

"Looking back, I'm glad I made the decision I did," he added.

He will PCS to Lackland Air Force Base at Wilford Hall Hospital next May.

Pam Hammer of Volunteers of America is the meal coordinator at Crosswalk. "Without our meal program, we wouldn't be able to offer as many services as we do," she said.

"There are a lot of hungry street kids who need to be fed. We rely on church organizations, service groups, and individuals to help us feed about 60 kids lunch and 30 of them dinner.

"That's every day and night, 365 days a year. During the past summer, we opened up on the weekends. We're still looking for meal providers."

Marquis also actively pursues volunteering by getting volunteers on base to collect and deliver food to Crosswalk.

"It makes you feel good," he says. "I've always wanted to help people out, and it's good to do that."

Marquis says he has seen scores of youngsters save themselves through the Crosswalk program, which leaves no stone unturned in keeping kids off the streets.

"We do this in order that they might get the help they need and right themselves, to go on to do good things in life," he said. "And most of them do. These kids have been through tough times, running away, but through us they go back and complete school. It's an excellent organization."