CLEVELAND — The need for medical supplies and equipment is urgent in Haiti following the devastating earthquake that has killed more than 2,000 and injured more than 12,000 people.
Disaster relief is a huge part of what MedWish International supports, which now means sending supplies to Haiti.
During the past 28 years, the nonprofit has shipped medical supplies and equipment to 114 countries, including Haiti. Those efforts are estimated to benefit more than one million people around the world each year.
The driving force of the organization is the volunteers.
At least twice per week, Donna Kramer may be found at MedWish.
“Completely love it,” she said.
She’s been volunteering at the Cleveland nonprofit since 2016.
“Came for the first time about two weeks before I retired, and the rest is history,” said Kramer.
Kramer worked in the data world for decades.
“Counting is in my blood,” she said.
And now she enjoys counting, sorting, checking expiration dates, and packing up items like extension sets for IVs.
Photo by Micaela Marshall
For Kramer, the hardest part is finding the right sized box.
“It’s not as easy as it looks,” she said.
MedWish has a system. It’s a well-oiled machine with a team of volunteers.
“So, everything gets counted and weighed twice,” said Kramer.
Kramer was recognized as the 2021 Volunteer of the Year at MedWish.
“We are very fortunate in the United States,” she said. “Let’s face it, with what we have access to, and I’ve seen firsthand where the materials are going and there’s a big need across the world.”
A lot of medical surplus in healthcare ends up in a landfill and the mission at MedWish is to change that by recovering and repurposing those supplies.
MedWish partners with medical missions and healthcare facilities locally and around the globe to provide humanitarian aid.
It’s what Kramer described as a “Band-Aid to the world.”
Right now, the organization is fulfilling wish lists and sending shipments to Haiti in the wake of the deadly earthquake.
“These people have suffered so much and it’s just one thing on top of another so anything that can be done,” she said.
Her favorite part of volunteering at MedWish is the medical brigades she’s been a part of in Kenya and the Dominican Republic.
“I had the wonderful opportunity in Kenya to be a part of labor and delivery of a baby. So, hard not to put that right up there in a life event for me and the mom,” said Kramer.
Kramer said volunteering has given her so much purpose and joy and she hopes to inspire others to give their time, too.
“I’m a strong proponent of volunteering and helping,” she said.
So far, MedWish has sent two shipments of supplies totaling 115 pounds to Haiti. Items like hygiene, wound care and casting supplies are in high demand.
Partner organizations in Haiti tell MedWish what they need and then MedWish fulfills the wish list.
“If you are an organization that is looking to respond to Haiti, we certainly would love to hear from you,” said Britta Latz, Associate Executive Director at MedWish. “We do have partners that are all over the world that we’ve sent supplies to in the past. So, when there are crises or things that have happened we are always looking to receive that feedback from them on how we can better help them. We are a small team of only about 12 to 15 staff members depending on the time of the year, and we are lucky enough to have around 3,500 to 4,500 volunteers to come through our doors every year. It’s really thanks to our volunteers that were able to do what we do.”
Although many of the donations come from healthcare partners, individuals can donate too.
Anyone with a wheelchair or diapers or bandages, or other medical supplies, may donate the items to MedWish.
