Sharing can make a world of difference!

www.medshare.org

MedShare International has a dual mission of providing humanitarian medical aid to economically developing countries and of helping to improve our local environment. Since 1998, MedShare has shipped over $50 million worth of surplus medical supplies and equipment to hospitals and clinics around the world while saving over a million cubic feet of landfill space.

Spotlight On: MedShare West

by Nancy Koziol

Dr. Karen Rice in Sort Area

MedShare has made an exciting step forward in its expansion to the West Coast-helping to bring medical surplus recovery options to more regions of the country.

Though its official grand opening will not happen until October 16th, the staff at MedShare's Northern California operation, MedShare West, has been hard at work since August to prepare this new facility for operation.

The Northern California community has already responded to the great medical need in economically developing countries, and our own communities, by donating several hundreds pallets of surplus healthcare supplies. More than 70 exam tables, 25 hospital beds, portable x-ray units, incubators, and other biomedical equipment have also been donated. On September 13th, MedShare West held its first volunteer sorting session with 20 Bay Area community volunteers in its new 32,000 square foot facility. These volunteers are just the first of thousands who will sort and pack this humanitarian aid. Located in San Leandro, this new facility is centrally located to more than 80 hospitals and is in close proximity to the Port of Oakland, from where we will be shipping containers.

Many healthcare facilities and medical manufacturers have already signed on for surplus collections. Kaiser Permanente has donated over fifty pallets of assorted medical supplies and regular barrel collections are being implemented throughout Catholic Healthcare West and Sutter Health facilities. "MedShare's innovative reuse program has been met with tremendous interest from California's hospitals. These healthcare providers are keenly aware of both the environmental and humanitarian impact that collaborating with MedShare brings to communities here and abroad", says Chuck Haupt, Executive Director MedShare Western Region.

Sort Area

Over the past nine months, Mr. Haupt and MedShare's Western Regional Council have been working to increase awareness of MedShare in the Northern California community. In a cross-country effort, MedShare's dedicated supporters in California and Georgia collaborated to raise the funds necessary to make this expansion possible. With the aid of a generous $200,000 challenge grant from The Kingdom Capital Group, made possible through the generosity of the Kendrick family, MedShare's Western Region was able to quickly raise the funds necessary to begin operations in Northern California. Mike Kendrick of The Kingdom Capital Group said, "I have confidence that my contribution will result in the improved healthcare of people around the world." Additional grants and in-kind donations from organizations such as Alameda County Waste Management Authority, Toyota Material Handling, Kaiser Permanente, Cisco, and many others, helped complete the launch efforts.

This great success has only been realized by the hard work and generous donations of financial supporters, dedicated activists, and wonderful staff. However, these accomplishments can only continue with the support of the whole MedShare family. Please consider a donation today. Any size gift can make a difference; just $32 will provide enough funding to sort, pack and donate two boxes of medical supplies to a needy healthcare facility in an economically developing country. With so many people around the word struggling to get basic medical care, MedShare needs your help now.

For additional information about the new Western Region facility please contact Chuck Haupt at 510-567-7070 or chaupt@medshare.org.

For volunteer opportunities in Northern California please contact Terry Monday at tmonday@medshare.org.

Shipment Update

During the month of August, MedShare shipped containers filled with vital medical supplies and equipment to healthcare institutions in different countries. The recipients were:

• Various
  Gleaning for the World
• Tanzania
  Diocese of Central Tanganyika
• Rwanda
  Partners in Health
• Colombia
  Gerente Hospital Francisco Valderrama de Turbo
• Ecuador
  Red Cross-Loja
• Zambia
  CURE International Hospital
• Panama
  National Children’s Hospital
• Angola
  Hospital Bom Jesus
• Kenya
  St. Mary's Mission Hospital

For more information and ways to support MedShare International,
please visit www.medshare.org or call 770-323-5858.