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Volunteer Impact Story: Medical Relief for Malawi, Ukraine, and Ethiopia

December 23, 2024 | Yvonne Hall

Each month our National Director of Operations has a video call with our volunteers and shares how their support impacts the delivery of health and hope around the world to those who need it most. This month's impact shares the story of medical equipment and supplies delivered to three countries: Malawi, Ethiopia and Ukraine.

Enjoy the video call recording or read the transcript below.

An excerpt from the December Volunteer Lunch & Learn of Danny Pyne, National Director of Operations, speaking on volunteer impact:

When we look at the impact of your volunteer hours, you all have heard a lot of different stories, I'm sure. Today we're going to talk about 3 of the most common destinations from this past year, Malawi, Ukraine, and Ethiopia. It's a little bit surface level. Just showing you some pictures, but if you're interested in a deep dive into how we work in some of these communities, check out some of the previous lunch and learns -- we have 1 from earlier in the fall that Jo Sullivan, our Houston executive director, did a fabulous deep dive into our work in Ethiopia and how we're connecting both with the diaspora and then the partners on the ground in country to provide a lot of essential care.

Medical Relief to Malawi

Every single {Project C.U.R.E.} warehouse has shipped to 1 of these locations, most of them have shipped multiple containers in the last few months. And so that's part of why I picked these countries.

So this first picture is a container that was sent out of Project C.U.R.E. Chicago that's arriving at Nisanje District Hospital in Malawi.

Really cool to see that container arrival. Last time we talked about a different container that arrived in Malawi, and you could see the singing and joy that was received on the other end. I like this picture because there's a big sign on the front of it. And as we're going into the holiday season, it just kind of reminds me of us as an organization sending these gifts over to our partners. And we take a lot of time to make sure everything is wrapped and put together in a way that it can be put into service as soon as it arrives.

And So it's just a wonderful holiday present to send to our partners. And again, anyone that's done any volunteering in our warehouse is a part of this process. You're a part of getting containers like this one to Malawi.

Medical Relief to Ukraine

A pretty cool story out of a couple warehouses. A lot of you have been sending lots of stuff to Ukraine.

I'm sure if you're part of the picking team or the loading crew it seems like, you know, every other container you're sending is headed to Ukraine. We had some volunteers from Phoenix and Chicago that received the award for good deeds from the National Health Council of Ukraine. And there's a quote on a certificate that I wanted to read to you all.

It said that, "the relief and hope provided through our combined efforts have been life-changing for countless individuals affected by the war. Your unwavering dedication and support have been key to achieving these outcomes, And we are deeply grateful for your role in this vital work."

Danny Pyne reading from an award from the National Health Council of Ukraine.

And we're not always going to get direct quotes like this back from our partners, but when we do, I always want to make sure that we share it with our volunteers. Because I know the reason a lot of you are here and we're going to dive a little deeper into that in the local meetings. But for me, this is why I love to work with volunteers and why I think it's such a privilege to be a part of this organization is because we have people that simply wouldn't be getting care without the work that you all do. And so it's an honor to work alongside you all. And I am happy to be able to relay some of the honors that our partners in Ukraine are bestowing on our volunteers.

Medical Relief to Ethopia

Next is Ethiopia. There's a few pictures here from Shambu Hospital in Western Oromia, Ethiopia. And so this container came from Denver. And again, as I mentioned, there's a really good case study into how we're working in these communities in Ethiopia if you want to check out the previous Lunch and Learn recording on that. But I just thought it was really cool to see how the whole community is rallying around this container arrival and is excited to help get it unloaded because this is a community-changing project.

It's changing lots of communities in Ethiopia, but each container can change the healthcare landscape in these communities. There's another picture from Ethiopia, and this is from Kombolcha Hospital, and this is them doing their first ever C-section. This hospital no longer has to refer patients to other locations for C-sections because of the work that our volunteers do. And so when I look at these big numbers of volunteer growth, and I see so many familiar faces when I step into the warehouse, and I see you all staying late, and I see you all working incredibly hard and caring so much about the work that we do. I'm excited because it means more stories like this.

More stories where people don't have to be referred to another hospital.

More stories where doctors and nurses have the tools they need to save lives.

More stories where mothers and children get additional chances at life because of the work that you all do.

Thanking Volunteers at all Project C.U.R.E. Locations

And so when we go into our local meetings and we talk about why we do what we do and where your passions lie, I'm excited to hear that feedback. But I want you to know that this is why I'm here.

And I'm sure this is the case for a lot of our other staff. And this is the case for a lot of you as well.

It's an absolute honor to get to work with you all. Because of your work, we're seeing stories like this all over the globe. I just want to say a heartfelt thank you from me, And I want to turn it over to Kris, who's going to close it out.

"Thanks, Danny, and thanks for touching on just the absolutely amazing work that all of the volunteers live on this call and that will watch this in their local meetings participate in on a daily basis," Kris Anderson, VP of Operations at Project C.U.R.E.

Volunteer Opportunities

Project C.U.R.E. has many ways individuals can volunteer by sorting and packing in our warehouses, driving our box trucks, testing equipment, working in our headquarters, and even capturing content for the website and social channels. Check our volunteer page to learn more and find a location to volunteer.

At the heart of Project C.U.R.E. are people like you who are willing to get involved by donating or volunteering. Together we can change the world!

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