Medshare Volunteering Experience
Medshare is an organization founded in the United States that delivers medical supplies to people and countries in need. I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Western Distributor Branch recently with about 30 other people. The goal is to pack as many boxes of medical supplies that you can. These boxes will be transported to people in need of them. The packing system is fairly simple. The supplies from the donors first have to be separated. Then each type of supply has to be packed in a Medshare box in order to be shipped. Doctors, health official, or anyone in dire need of a medical supplies can order equipment. Once receiving the order, the packing facility will then prepare for the boxes to be shipped. The cost of the shipment is covered by the numerous sponsors and partners that help Medshare thrive. The great amount of surplus supplies and funding from hospitals, patients, and other donors have been the driving force of the organization.
Hospitals and doctors donate surplus or old medical equipment, former patients who do not need certain supplies donate them, and medical suppliers donate extra or outdated supplies. No matter how old, it can still be put to use in second and third world countries who have a scarce medical system. Over $200 million of medical supplies have been packed and shipped from the United States.
This is the impact of Medshare internationally as well as in our community:
INTERNATIONALLY
- $207 MILLION IN AID DONATED
- 19 MILLION PATIENTS TREATED
- 766,000 HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS EQUIPPED
- 100 COUNTRIES SERVED
- 1,500 SHIPMENTS OF LIFESAVING MEDICAL PRODUCTS SENT
DOMESTICALLY
- 20,000 VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT OUR MISSION
- 17.5 MILLION LBS. OF SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT DIVERTED FROM U.S. LANDFILLS
- 102 US FREE & SAFETY CLINICS SERVED
- 3,400 MEDICAL MISSION TEAMS EQUIPPED
- 2,480 ENGINEERS TRAINED IN THE US
Medshare truly is a wonderful organization to volunteer for. A taste for the medical world as well as numerous important values are present in this experience. Everything from the rigorous packing to realizing that you are creating an impact is imperative. The help aid Medshare can provide is boundless and it all starts with volunteers. Just one box can help millions.
