On February 1, 2024, Kerndeep Gill, Administrative Coordinator IV in Nursing Professional Development, and Sukhie Kaur, DNP, RN, Director of Nursing Professional Development, volunteered for the Healthy Room Project, a community policing initiative aimed at creating safe spaces for at-risk children in vulnerable communities. The program has positively impacted over 250 children with the help of 700 police officers and 2,500 volunteers, working to improve the well-being of underprivileged, inner-city children who often face dangerous living conditions.
Kerndeep, Sukhie and many other Kaiser Permanente Central Valley Area volunteers teamed up with local police officers to redesign the bedrooms of seven children in need of support. In collaboration with the Manteca Police Department, the team surprised the children with room makeovers, creating fresh, safe, and inspiring spaces which included painting walls, assembling new furniture, organizing and decorating the rooms with bright colors, new bedding, and thoughtful decorative touches that would make the spaces feel like their own. The day began with a meet-and-greet with parents and older children, and the volunteers focused on preparing the rooms for the younger kids, who were at school.
What made the project unique was the element of surprise—when the children returned home from school, they found their rooms completely transformed. The goal was to show the children they were valued and to provide them with a space that reflected their individuality. The most rewarding part of the experience was witnessing the children’s reactions when they walked into their newly decorated rooms. Their joy and disbelief were heartwarming. It was a humbling experience for both Kerndeep and Sukhie, as they had the chance to give back to their community and play a small part in improving the lives of these families.