Physicians for Peace

by Shawn Carolan-Abell

Thanks to this wonderful community and to everyone who participated, the drive last month to collect Crutches for Haiti was a great success! The total amount collected was 134 pairs of crutches, 61 canes, 3 quad canes, 2 forearm crutches, 3 black boots for foot injury, 3 walking sticks and two prosthetic legs! All donations were sent to Physicians for Peace warehouse in Virginia, and then on to Haiti.
 

Physicians for Peace designed the Walking Free Program to assist amputees by establishing sustainable prosthetic and rehabilitation centers, not only in Haiti but in developing nations worldwide. They are the only prosthetic and orthotic clinic fully up and running in Haiti since the earthquake. The new location is at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital.
 

It just amazes me how well this drive went, in that everything that needed to happen just fell into place, thanks to so many kind and caring people who offered their help along the way. 

Thank you so much to the following businesses and people:
 

I would not have gotten to square one without the outstanding generosity of our local United Parcel Service, especially Gerry Snider and Dave Ringstrom who arranged to ship the multitude of large boxes at no charge; Catch a Canoe for all of those perfect bike boxes and Jason Biggie for his compassion and energy posting flyers all over Mendocino and getting the word out in Comptche; Kat Biggie for improving on the flyers; Andy and Connie Taylor who traveled to Albion, Elk and Anderson Valley posting flyers; Beth Szychowski for posting flyers in FB; Tom and Penny Honer for providing Harvest Market as a collection point; Rossi’s for lending the great red collection cans; Pastor Greg at Grace Memorial for the first five pairs of crutches; to Hospice thrift store for donating four pairs; Ray Hino at MCDH for the box of new arm pads; Paul Hansen at KZYX, and KOZT for the radio spots; Cathleen Crosby for her energy, all her work and immediate response in coordinating the excellent drive in Gualala; Dwane Ray for picking up the crutches in Gualala, delivering them to my house, and getting the word out to Rotary Club and Fort Bragg; Cindy Lemas and to the Lions Club and Todd Gryzwana for purchase costs for tape, new arm pads and hand grips so every pair of crutches sent were in excellent condition; Mendocino Pharmacy whose help has been immense in obtaining new arm pads and hand grips; Village Toy store for the sticker books to attach to the pediatric crutches; Cheryl Bloom for taking great pictures.

Take a look at these beautiful crutches: