Crutches4Africa

One of the things that is so great about Rotary is the way that things seemingly just accidently come together to help people all over the world!  It seems as though our local Hospice of Homer had a surplus of crutches, and a lack of storage space.  Rather than throw them away, the Director of Hospice searched for an organization that could make use of them, and found Crutches4Africa, based in Colorado, who would love to have them!  Glenwood Springs, CO Rotarian Pam Pine and her husband, Rick, were planning a trip to Alaska in their pickup truck, and volunteered to pick them up in Homer, AK and transport them to Tacoma, WA for consolidation prior to being shipped to Africa.  Pam and Rick are members of the Rotary International Travel and Hosting Foundation, so they contacted local Rotarians Vivian Finlay and Clyde Boyer (also members of the ITHF) about possible hosting and, perhaps, some assistance.  The WORD went out.

 

Monday July 31 at 0800 16 Rotarians met with the Hospice staff to sort, pack, and load 85 pairs of crutches, 10 walkers, and 6 mobility boots into Pam and Rick's pickup truck.  Before 0930 we were done, proof positive that many hands make for light work!

 

Meeting the Crutches

 

Sorting and Pairing

 

Wire Ties and Plastic Wrap to Hold the Crutches Together

 

Most of the "Crew" and many of the Crutches

 

Pam Stuffing the Back Seat

 

Loading the Back of the Truck

 

Rebecca Stuffing the Last of the Crutches In

 

Pam Securing the Load

 

Pam, Rick, and Jessica (Director of Hospice of Homer)