During a whirlwind, five-day visit to Ghana, Denise Sears was able to see and hear exactly how SOS supplies are changing and saving lives. Touring the North Tongu region with close partner and Member of Parliament, the Honorable Samuel Ablakwa, Denise spoke to nurses and medical directors and heard firsthand about how our support is dramatically improving medical outcomes and elevating healthcare for thousands. The highlights:

• Seeing a thriving and busy Mepe Health Center, the first medical care facility in that part of North Tongu. It was able to open with support from SOS; we fully equipped their labor & delivery, overnight hospital ward and lab. “The medical director shared that our ultrasound machine saved the lives of a mother and baby the day before by diagnosing a complication in time to refer her to a larger hospital for an emergency cesarean,” says Denise. “Our supplies are also being used to hold community health screenings. Over 300 people were screened during our visit!”
• A visit to the large 200-bed regional referral hospital which received critically important equipment including an anesthesia machine for the OR, an infant incubator and infant warmers. “The head nurse said the infant incubator is helping to save one to two babies a week.”
•  Follow-up at St. Anne’s which received our help last year and reduced infant mortality rates by 24% in the following six months. “Next, we need to get them additional lab equipment so they can conduct more screenings and medical tests!” 

Evidence of elevated health outcomes and access was everywhere Denise went, as were the signs of more work to be done. Our next Ghana container is scheduled to ship before the end of the year!

Meet our FIRST Global Student Ambassador

DuPont Manual freshman Prisha Hedau will lead projects, volunteer sessions and social media outreach in this newly created role at SOS

SOS's first Global Student Ambassador, Prisha Hedau, is an entrepreneur, author, social media influencer and, already at this young age, an equity advocate. She has been raising money for an orphanage in her mother's hometown in India since her first visit seven years ago when she witnessed extreme poverty for the first time. Now, with SOS's help, she is ready to do more.

Last Saturday, Prisha launched her first international project as our first official Global Student Ambassador-- packing and sorting supplies for a custom box she fundraised to send to an NGO named Matru Sewa Sangh in India-- an organization that runs not only the orphanage, but a community clinic and a midwife and nursing program for impoverished women.

Prisha was joined by her proud parents, Raj and Rachana, and friends from Dupont Manual High School, Ballard High School and Meyzeek Middle School. As our first student ambassador, Prisha will organize other volunteer events and be a voice for SOS among young people. "I am honored to be the first Global Student Ambassador for SOS," says Prisha. "I hope I can inspire other students to get involved, make a difference and help take care of the earth and its people!"

Calling all shoppers! The items below are low in inventory and we can always use help restocking; every band aid or bottle of shampoo helps a family in need or in a shelter.

Drop them at 1500 Arlington Ave, Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 4:00!

BANDAIDS

BODY WASH

BRUSHES

COMBS

DEODORANT

FEMININE PROTECTION

GAUZE

SHAMPOO

TOOTHBRUSHES

TOOTHPASTE