We obtained most of the supplies through the Franciscan Mission Warehouse located in Independence, Missouri. The Franciscan Mission Warehouse “exists to bring resources and lifesaving medical supplies to the places in the world where they are needed most.” Franciscan Mission Warehouse partners with many worthwhile organizations to provide the supplies they need and we are so thankful that are one of them.
The Warehouse is a very large building that is still unable to contain all the rescued equipment. Inside it is meticulously organized with items stored in shelving units not unlike a big box store. Durable goods (beds, bedside tables, lights) are downstairs and medical supplies and small equipment upstairs. Volunteers work in a central area where they sort, clean, organize and repackage as necessary.
Michael Straughn, Executive Director at Franciscan Mission Warehouse, meets with hospital administrators, and arranges for them to donate their outdated and unwanted medical equipment and supplies to their organization.
Paul Wilson, a retired U.S. Army major and helicopter pilot who volunteered at the warehouse and now oversees it, figured out down to the inch, how to load 12 pallets with the supplies Dignity:Liberia’s president, Kathi Park-Gutierrez requested.
Kathi and Paul went through the warehouse inventory and she said things like, “We could use that,” and “We definitely need that,” while he noted things on a list. He then spent two nights working out a grid layout that allowed for all the supplies to fit on the pallets.
All of these supplies have reached our shipping company in Maryland. Two additional pallets will accompany the lifesaving medical supplies we received from the Franciscan Mission Warehouse. They will hold more medical equipment as well as supplies for the Rehabilitation Center in Phebe.
Dr. Norman Mutchnick, M.D. who recently retired from his Lee’s Summit, MO medical practice, donated to Dignity:Liberia 3 operating/exam lights, over 200 pieces of surgical tools, gloves, anesthesia, a dozen sets of glass hypodermics, and an autoclave to sterilize the hypodermics.
Sometime in September, depending on shipping schedules, fourteen pallets of supplies (most earmarked for Dignity House), will be loaded on a container, and shipped to Liberia. A total of fourteen pallets of supplies!
Many of you reading this blog played a direct part in getting these supplies to Liberia. The funds we raised during Trivia Night are being used to ship these supplies and to help offset the administrative expenses at the Franciscan Mission Warehouse. If you attended our fundraiser, you helped. Most of the supplies that we are sending for the Rehab Center were ordered from our Amazon Wish List. Did you donate a pair of flip-flops on Trivia Night? They too are on the pallets!
Dignity House will be well stocked and we are so thankful to the many individuals who felt moved to contribute time, talent, and treasure to make this happen!