The United Colon Vlog

Shortly before the Ostomy supply donations were put on hold (until I relocate), the supplies were collected and stored temporarily at my father’s portrait studio. Each package was carefully sorted and each item was inventoried and counted. As noted in previous blogs and videos, our UCVlog donation drive yielded an incredible total of 11,000+ supplies, equaling a monetary value of over $37.000. What an accomplishment for our first attempt at this project of only 10 months young!! Thanks again to all of you that took the time and effort, as well as money to ship your supplies. We could not have achieved such an amazing and generous donation without your efforts.

Last week, I arranged through my ostomy support group to drop the supplies again at the church that I had dropped them at the last time. However, Sister Helen, one of the sisters that work closely with the medical supply donation, forwarded information to the establishment that she works with directly. It is the Green Bay Medical Supply and Sewing Mission. So I contacted their office and spoke to their coordinator, Kay Daugherty, at length about what UCVlog has begun and arranged to drop the supplies off right there.

On Wednesday, January 26, I loaded my car and headed to the warehouse district of our city to find this tiny little building nestled right in the middle, but when I entered, I was amazed by the enormous operation that Kay and her volunteers have created to help those in need. Their organization, the Green Bay Medical Supply and Sewing Mission, supplies over 30 countries in need of medical supplies, clothing, basic essentials, toiletries, diapers, and countless other items. They have a very efficient system in place where volunteers sort and organize all the donations. Contacts in countries such as Haiti, Chile, Dominican Republic, Kenya, Bulgaria, and many more will contact Kay to let her know their needs and then the volunteers working for the mission help fill the needs of that country. She runs by generous donations by regular citizens, and her team is made up of volunteers. Once the items are sorted they are put into labeled bins for easy access. When a call comes in from a place in need they easily can locate the items and volunteers package goods and take them directly to the people.

Each team that goes to take the donations abroad, are always a medical team of doctors and nurses as well as additional volunteers. Kay herself travels often and was a surgical nurse for many years. Each box is packaged, and a labeled inventory is in each box stating what is in each container. The boxes are then weighed and wait to be taken to the airport to transport. Some donations do travel by ship. I had informed Kay that our UCVlog donation drive was posted to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, but we would be happy for her to send them anywhere they are needed. She assured me that they would go where we wished, however, there was a specific recent request for ostomy supplies needed in Bulgaria, and so I let her know that we would be happy for them to go wherever there is a need!

I spent most of the early part of my day with Kay and learned more how our donations help so many other people. I took quite a few photos to share here also. This entire experience has raised my awareness so much broader to those in the third world, and many in other countries that have little to no resources to aid them through a medical experience. From something so basic or minor to the most major or life changing medical emergencies, these donations are immensely important. Even the smallest detail is tended to by these volunteers. As an example, volunteers taking medical supplies to countries in Africa always take with them handmade diapers (made by the wonderful mission volunteers) for all the babies and orphans. The diapers are pin less because of the AIDS epidemic, the risk of blood contact is reduced when the diapers have no pins. In remote areas of Africa, disposable diapers long-term are useless. The handmade diapers can be used over and over!!

I was humbled because I take for granted the ease of ordering my ostomy or medical supplies and having them delivered to my door in 24 hours. Or if I have a medical need, a quick call to my doctor, an office visit, or a drive to the pharmacy can yield a reasonably quick result. When I heard Kay’s stories, and saw the photos of the victims or citizens in need, it moved me to my core and made me realize that what we are all doing has a greater purpose and I cannot thank you all enough for what we have all been able to do together to make this happen. So, as soon as I relocate, I will be posting a new address for ostomy/medical supply donations. We will be back up and running in no time and we will continue to make a difference. Thanks again!

“Be the change you wish to see in the world” ~Ghandi

~Nadia

The map of countries where supplies have gone so far

Nadia and Kay with UCVlog donated ostomy supply boxes

Shelves of storage for various supplies

More supplies organized on shelves

These are just supplies that came in and were sorted in one day!

Handmade dolls for children--The volunteers sew these dolls for children and are taken to countries with the medical supplies. They hand them out to all the kids! One neat fact: the dolls are sewn and brought to local schools and elementary school kids draw faces on the dolls before they are shipped out. CUTE!

Cloth diapers for babies in Kenya--Handmade by volunteers. Note how they tie the front of the diapers. No pins needed because of the AIDS epidemic.

My parting photo with Kay. We all can make a change. Words to inspire all...