Crutches for Haiti: So You Don't Have Any Crutches

CRUTCHES FOR HAITI

It's hard to get back on your feet when you only have one. Doctors in Haiti are performing amputations 24/7. The need for assistive devices will be great. Let's get Haitians back on their feet and ready to rebuild. Bring crutches with tips and pads to one of the listed drop-off locations by Friday, January 29th. We also will accept wheelchairs and pediatric walkers. Thanks to Healing Hands for Haiti for letting us add our donations to their container already positioned to ship to Haiti. Thanks too to Redman Van & Storage for helping us with packaging.

A SEMI LOAD!

Would you believe we have collected an entire 40ft. truck of beautifully crated crutches, walkers and wheelchairs?!? Thanks to all of you who took the time to deliver what you had to one of our drop-off locations. Your response was AMAZING! We never dreamed it would become so HUGE.

As donations came pouring in, our friends at Redman Van and Storage saved the day! They graciously rolled with this project—packaging everything at their own expense as trailer after trailer came rolling in. It was clear to see from the beginning that the size of this donation would likely overwhelm our friends at Healing Hands for Haiti.

After lots of phone calls and anxiety about what to do with all of these loving donations, we have found a new partner in Physicians for Peace. They are working with Healing Hands for Haiti and have sufficient infrastructure to accept a large donation. The only problem is we now need to deliver a semi-load to a warehouse in Virginia, rather than a few pallets to a warehouse in Murray, UT. (If you feel like we left Healing Hands in the lurch…don’t worry, we have a big, yet more manageable, donation for them too!)

So while it stinks to ask your friends for money, it would stink even more to have these donations sit in a warehouse. Sending these items to Virginia will cost us around $4500 (final quote is not in—this is our estimate). It is a very manageable amount of money if we all give a little (or find someone who can give a lot). The only trouble is this will not be a donation to a listed charity—so you won’t have a receipt for tax purposes.

If this isn’t something you care to contribute to—or you hesitate to give when it’s just to a person. I understand. Follow your instincts and do what you are comfortable with! I truly won’t think twice about it. I’d love to have money collected by Wednesday, so if you could spare a little, send me an email “pledging” your amount and drop a check to me. I’ll let you know when we reach the magic number! I’ll also post invoices etc, on the blog and list donation amounts (without names)…In fact check there before you commit to an amount in case we've already made it. I’ll do my best to have complete and open communication so you all know it’s up to snuff. I just don’t have many other options.

Here’s my info:

Mary Ann Fuhriman

maryannfuhriman@msn.com

2919 La Rue Lane

Salt Lake City, UT 84106

801-502-3661

PS/ PLEASE let me know via email if you plan to contribute so I can call it quits as soon as I have what we need. The last thing I need is more money than I know what to do with! Crutches are one thing...money is another!

Monday, January 25, 2010

So You Don't Have Any Crutches

If you are one of the lucky people who has been fortunate enough to not NEED crutches and therefore don't have any, BLESS YOU! We still need your help. As you can see below, we will be shipping a large number of medical supplies. If you would like to help with shipping costs, please email me and I'll let you know how to proceed.
Mary Ann Fuhriman (maryannfuhriman@msn.com)

WE ARE NO LONGER COLLECTING

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