WCSRN Materials, Equipment, and Supplies Section

Materials, Equipment and Supplies

Purpose of this Section: To identify sources of materials, equipment and supplies, etc. Only ongoing sources are listed, single project oriented or location specific efforts may be found in the Projects Section.

Subject Advisor: Jack Maxwell, Rotary Club of Bixby, OK, USA, District 6110

RI Publication 725-EN Donations-in-kind Information Network Resource Guide contains a wealth of useful information regarding projects involving donations of equipment, supplies and materials. The list of Resource Organizations and accompanying index is comprehensive. With the increased use of the Internet, the value of continuing this Guide in its print form is questionable and the WCSRN has recommended its publication on the RI Web Site. The companion quarterly publication Donations-in-kind Information Network Bulletin that listed "Donations Requested" and "Donation Offers" has been discontinued.

For those organizations that plan to accumulate and store materials prior to shipment, MSNI (See below) has prepared a manual, Warehousing Manual for International Humanitarian Aid. It can downloaded from

Rotarian Jack Maxwell of the Rotary Club of Bixby, OK, USA (see MSNI, below) has organized a group called WHARF (Worldwide Humanitarian Alliance with Rotarians and Friends), that includes organizations that collect, recondition, store, and/or ship such items to project locations around the world. The official name of the alliance is District 6110 WHARF. This alliance was formerly named MESNAR (Medical Equipment Supplies Network Alliance with Rotarians), but since the alliance is concerned with all types of equipment and supplies, it was felt that a name change was in order.

The organizations listed below are identified with a "W" code after the name if they are members of WHARF. Additional information on those organizations may be found at the WHARF Web Site and information about affiliating with WHARF can be obtained from Jack Maxwell .

Organizations are Listed Alphabetically below:

AERDO, AERDO is Association of Evangelical Relief and Development Organizations. This is a forum for non-profit Christian agencies and individuals engaged in relief and development work. There are 45 members shown and it appears many provide volunteer effort as well as medical supplies, equipment, etc.

American Medical Resources Foundation, Contact: David Harrington, Phone 1-508-580-3301. - AMRF refurbishes medical equipment and ships to hospitals in developing nations. The Foundation also provides training for those responsible for the maintenance, repair and calibration of the donated equipment.

Aquabox, Great Britain, Contact: Frank Lund - This project provides rapid response to man made or natural disasters with safe drinking water and welfare aid items

Blessings International - W33, Contact: Harold C. Harder - Blessings International was founded in 1981 to serve as a source of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies for treating indigent patients through Christian clinics and hospitals located in developing nations and by short-term medical teams serving needy patients in such countries. Blessings International has ongoing relief and development projects in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Myanmar, North Korea, Mozambique and India. Over 1000 other ministries have used our services since our inception.

Book Aid International - Contact: Nicola Cadbury - Book Aid International (formerly Ranfurly Library Service) works in partnership with people in developing countries to support literacy, education, training and publishing. The organization provides books and other reading materials to help give people the chance to realize their potential and contribute to the development of their societies.

Books for Africa - - Contact: Dr. Robert J. Kowalczyk - The organizations mission is to combat the shortage of reading materials in Africa by collecting and sending books to schools and libraries throughout the continent. The organization provides funding for shipment, as well a assistance with sorting and packing the materials.

Medical Equipment and Supplies Abroad, Inc. (MESA) - W48, Contact: Jack Goodnight, PDG - MESA is an ongoing WCS Project of District 6600. It involves shipping of medical supplies and equipment to countries in need. MESA invites participation from other Rotary Clubs and Districts.

Medical Mission Program -W5 , Contact: Jean Wells - The Medical Mission Program began in January 1999 as a domestic and international community service project. We have worked in collaboration with Operation Condor in shipments and staff to Peru. Also, with Intervol at the Rosebud Indian Reservation in S.D. Intervol has a 20,000 Sq. Ft. warehouse of recycled medical equipment and have been our main supplier thus far.

MediSend International - W42, Contact: Susan M. Rowe - MediSend International was founded in 1990 by Dr. Martin Lazar. The mission is to collect surplus medical supplies and equipment for distribution to public/charity institutions in developing countries. MediSend provides local and national mission groups with these items for their projects and partners with Rotary Clubs and other organizations. Over the past ten years MediSend has made 304 shipments to 58 nations on 5 continents valued at $ 6.25 million (US).

Mission of Love Foundation - Contact Kathleen M. Price The Mission of Love is a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian aid to those in need throughout the world, specially children. Backed by individuals, local businesses and the U.S. Government's Denton Program, the Mission of Love airlifts clothing, medicine, food and building supplies to third world countries. Once the supplies arrive, volunteers, both young and old, from all walks of life, are there to utilize the supplies by building medical clinics, repairing orphanages, and administering medical treatment to the ill and serving those in need.

- Contact: Dr. Bruce A. Woodling, Medical Director - Mission Without Borders is an international Christian organization, founded in 1960, dedicated to serving the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those suffering the effects of poverty or persecution. By involving those it serves, Mission Without Borders recognizes the dignity of the individual and strives to help build capacity for self-sufficiency. People are served without regard to their religion or ethnic background. Current projects provide aid in the following countries: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, and China. Long-term local presence in these countries, as well as the employment of primarily national staff, enables Mission Without Borders to identify and address the most important and urgent needs.

MSNI (Medical Supplies Network, Inc.)W1 - , Contact: Larry Biron - MSNI is a project started in 1992 by Rotarian Jack Maxwell after a trip to the Philippines. It consists of two 6000 sq. ft. warehouses that are owned by this 501-c-3 non-profit corporation. We rent one for income and use the other for our operations. Since 1996 MSNI has shipped 37 forty foot containers of medical equipment and supplies to 13 different countries. Most of our shipments are WCS projects with other Rotary clubs overseas. However, MSNI has partnered with NGOs and a few church groups involved with medical missions. In addition, we have helped 8 or 10 local and regional charities by making donations of medical inventory to their needs.

Mercy Corps - Contact:Rachel Lieber - Mercy Corps exists to help alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. The agencies programs now reach 4 million people in more than 25 countries. Mercy Corps pursues its mission through Emergency Relief Services, Sustainable Community Development, and Civil Society Initiatives.

WCS Project, D6940 - W13, Contact: Randall Spencer - Costa Rica Mobile Medical Dental Units: Established for the purpose of providing medical or dental facilities to any worthwhile missionary group. Two units 8 X 24 are equipped for medical exams and medical dispensing. They are equipped with A/C and generators and may be transported to a specific site. Clinica Biblica is the host group in Costa Rica and has usually identified the very needy locations. Two other units 8 X 24 are equipped for dental use. Each has three stations equipped with RotoDents. Dentists provide their own instruments. Three Cavitrons are also available. Please note: Costa Rica is strict on bringing in out of date meds. 1 to 2 days are required for customs.

Wheels for Humanity, Contact: David Richard - Wheels for Humanity collects, restores and with the help of other relief and development agencies, wheelchairs, and distributes them to developing countries. Each recipient is matched up with the wheelchair that best fits their needs.

, Contact: Chris Lewis- The mission of the Wheelchair Foundation is to deliver a wheelchair to every man, woman and child in the world who needs one. For those individuals, the Wheelchair Foundation offers hope, freedom, self-reliance and mobility. Rotary is partnering with the Wheelchair Foundation andJon B. Grant, DDS is the Rotary contact.

World Concern- World Concern's mission is to overcome human suffering through emergency relief, rehabilitation and long-term development so that individuals and families can be in the right relationship with God, one another and creation.

World Dental Relief, Inc., Contact: Ron Lamb, DDS - Collects excess dental equipment, stores, and ships all over the world. They work closely with Rotary.

World Relief - World Relief provides international assistance and refugee settlement. It concentrates on agriculture and food production, disaster and emergency relief, micro enterprise development, cooperatives and credit.

World Vision - W26, World Vision Gift In Kind (GIK) department sends new donated product to various countries throughout the world. The products shipped are in direct response to needs identified in the field from our various offices. Our GIK products are integrated into ongoing community development and child sponsorship projects in countries in Latin America, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa. We have national offices in all of the countries we serve.