Knoxville Students Help Homeless Prepare for Winter Storm

Every week, South College physician assistant students set up in downtown Knoxville with a simple mission: meet people where they are and help them survive. As forecasters predict snow and icy conditions this weekend, that work has never been more urgent.

The students provide free health screenings, over-the-counter medications, and cold weather gear through their regular outreach program. They're also checking for signs of frostbite and hypothermia, conditions that Dr. Gary Lethco, the program's medical director, says are serious threats to anyone sleeping outdoors.

Keith Womac, who experiences homelessness, explained his strategy for staying alive during cold snaps. "I just try to get in any place where the wind doesn't blow," he said.

Bailey Manifold, a student in the program, described how the team prepares people for dangerous weather. "Making sure they're fully ready to the best of their ability to brace these temperatures and just making sure they have everything they need," she said.

Ike Nwangwa, another man facing homelessness this weekend, expressed gratitude for the assistance. "I just tell them 'thank you' because I do not have the money to go to the store and buy it," he said.

The Ripple Effect

The program creates two layers of positive impact. Students gain real-world medical training while learning something equally important: how to show up for people during their hardest moments.

"Learning compassion and just getting to experience people almost at their lowest and how do you meet them there," Manifold explained. She's applying classroom knowledge to serve the people who need it most.

The city is opening warming centers during the cold snap, giving people like Womac and Nwangwa safe places to escape the elements. Combined with the students' weekly care, Knoxville's vulnerable neighbors have multiple lifelines this weekend.

These future healthcare providers are proving that medicine isn't just about treating symptoms—it's about seeing human dignity in every patient, no matter where they sleep at night.