SOS March Newsletter: Highlights of Hope

INCREDIBLE IMPACT UPDATES FROM THE HEALTH & HOPE BREAKFAST

The 290 guests who came to our sixth annual breakfast began their day with this incredible news: The mortality rate of pregnant and delivering mothers in the area of North Tongu, Ghana, that SOS serves is now zero. "There have been no deaths of pregnant mothers since receiving our container from SOS," partner and keynote speaker the Honorable Samuel Ablakwa, member of parliament for North Tongu, shared from the podium. A shipment sent after the historic flooding that followed our team's Fall visit had similarly dramatic effects: 21 emergency clinics were quickly created to serve 12,000 Ghanaians displaced by the disaster-- providing medical relief and comfort in the midst of so much loss. (See slide, left.)

We learned that our impact is just as great in our own city when Michelle Young shared the story of opening The Health Career Training Institute in South Louisville with supplies, equipment and partnerships established through SOS. In less than three years, she has graduated 200 students-- many of them new to this country and now established in rewarding careers that can support and inspire their families. Several were in the audience, their faces beaming with pride. Michelle is adding a phlebotomy program this year.

CEO Denise Sears shared news of impact to come-- including a remarkable pilot educational program with Madisonville North Hopkins High School. Their students are building a clinic with an operating suite out of a shipping container that will be fully equipped by SOS and shipped to Liberia. Also in the works: A Wheelchair Repair and Cleaning Clinic for the unhoused in our own city that is supported in part by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. The morning was a reminder of the dramatic impact SOS has on those in need in our own backyards and across the globe.

Support our Local Program

HELPING RURAL STUDENTS BECOME FUTURE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

A delivery of $46,144 in medical supplies and equipment to Owensboro this week will help give more than 7,000 Davies County high school students skills and training that can lead to careers in healthcare. The items are being distributed to area high schools as well as to HealthForce Kentucky, an organization that brings hands-on training to rural students. The delivery from SOS allows HealthForce and individual public schools to provide wider access to the highest levels of instruction and technology-- putting rural students on paths to bright futures and breaking the cycle of rural health inequities.

THE SOS WISH LIST

Calling all SHOPPERS! The items below are low in inventory and are needed by the unhoused in our community whom we serve!

Drop them at 1500 Arlington Ave, Monday through Friday, 8 to 4, or use our NEW Amazon Wish List to have them delivered to our door.

BANDAIDS

BODY WASH

BRUSHES

COMBS

DEODORANT

FEMININE PROTECTION

SHAMPOO

TOOTHBRUSHES

TOOTHPASTE

Give

A THANK YOU NOTE FROM UGANDA

This note says more than any report ever could

"Thank you all so much for supplying the 50 pounds of medical supplies for our one-day medical camp at Cornerstone Health Clinic in Kibajjwe, Uganda…. We saw over 270 villagers who were struggling with everything from malaria, high blood pressure, and other sicknesses, diseases, and injuries. It’s so wonderful to see the smiles on the faces of all the people who were able to receive the care they needed.”

Sincerely,

Grant Logsdon

Chief Officer, Unreached4K

Cheers for our Volunteers!

In the last few weeks, groups of regulars and newcomers helped sort items that went to local education and into containers bound for Africa. Metcalf County High did global citizenship activities, personal hygiene restocking, PPE boxing, and packed dressings.The work of each of these groups is changing and saving lives here and across the globe.

Francis Parker School

Office for Safer & Healthy Neighborhoods

Metcalf County High School

Ivy Tech Clinical Group

If you're looking for a group outing that builds camaraderie and contributes to the greater good, SOS is a welcoming, collaborative environment where over 2,000 volunteers a year spread health and hope by carefully sorting medical supplies that will go to humans and animals in need. We welcome corporate groups, clubs, teams, classes as well as individuals.

Volunteer shifts can be scheduled Monday through Thursday, 9-12:00 or 1-4:00m or on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 9-12:00. Evenings are occasionally available. Please join us!

Volunteer