Hospital Sister's Mission Outreach

So today's post is a little less snark and a bit more jaw dropping awe. But that's ok, I think, because the experience I had at Hospital Sister's Mission Outreach warrants that kind of awe. If you have the chance to go and be a part of that, then you should (there will be info at the end of the post detailing how you can get involved with them) but enough about that.

So during Service-A-Thon I went to Hospital Sister's Mission Outreach, and it was a very surprising. I knew kind of what I was getting into from discussing the organization with Doc. I knew it was a giant warehouse that collects hospital supplies that hospitals in America won't use anymore, or don't need, that have never been used or in the case of larger equipment, wheelchairs, etc. that has been gently used and still is in good condition, and they collect it instead of just letting hospitals throw all of that out. Then they sort it all in some fantastic and magical way and store it until a hospital or clinic in a third world country pops onto their website and orders a big cargo container filled with all of the supplies they need.

Like one of these. Only packed to the brim with all the supplies they need.

Then all the clinic or hospital has to pay for is the shipping, and presto! They are stocked with a bunch of perfectly good supplies that would otherwise be rotting in some dumpster, wasted. 

Now, don't get me wrong, that is what Hospital Sister's Mission Outreach is, and is all about. But you don't really understand the organization or the work they do until you step into that warehouse and you see it. You see all of the boxes, all of the things that would have just gone to waste otherwise when there is nothing wrong with them. Millions and millions of boxes of gauze and bandages that haven't been used or anything and will last forever thrown out for no reason. The same for things like latex gloves, and all the little things we take for granted that other countries have in such short supply.

And then, they tell you the stories.

Stories about hospitals they know of that have only one pair of latex gloves that they use over and over because it's all they have. Reverently washing and drying them after each use because, after all, its better than nothing. And of people from those hospitals who have come to the warehouse before, and broken down at the sheer quantity of the things they need just sitting on shelves, and the knowledge that if someone hadn't thought to start collecting it, it all would have just been thrown away.

So now, what do you do when you get there (besides being dumbstruck, of course)? Well you first get the tour (so you too can see exactly what it is you are contributing to), and then you get down to work. You have two options, based on exactly how detail oriented you are. You either can sort items more generally (all bandages and bandage-esque things in one giant tub, medical equipment in another, etc.) or you can be more specific (this particular kind of gauze in one tub, this bandage type in another, etc.), it just depends on your personality and what you are comfortable with. 

The group on the left is doing more general sorting, the team on the right is doing detailed sorting.

At first it can be a little overwhelming, with so many tubs and specifications on where things go, and as you are NOT required to have any sort of medical knowledge it can be a little more difficult as you don't always know what you are looking at, at least not at first. But before you know it you've got the hang of it and can get it a rhythm. You also get to take a break and step away from it all at about the half way point, and join your fellow volunteers in the break room for snacks and to chat for a bit. 

All in all I can't even begin to tell you how fantastic this service opportunity is, and if you are interested in getting involved here is how you can do that:

Hospital Sister's Mission Outreach

Weekly, Starting Sept. 17th

5-8pm

Transportation will be provided,
Busing will leave from LRH

To sign up click the link:

http://uishospitalsisters.eventbrite.com

LIMIT 12 VOLUNTEERS PER WEEK

For more information contact:

Michael Lotspeich
mlots2@uis.edu

- Erika
UIS VISTA