Ukraine & Hearts For Hospice

We’ve all watched in horror at the situation in Ukraine, wishing there was something we could do to help. Well, the incredible Hearts for Hospice warehouse team, led by Gerry Roe, Paul Phillips & Michelle Harvey, found a tangible way to help.
 
Over the years, H4H has donated medical items that we are unable to sell or items that are in abundance, including boxes of wound care, ostomy supplies, pressure relief cushions and much more. Even before the war in Ukraine began, H4H had been donating medical supplies to Ukraine, through the Nazarene Ministry out of Salem (this is just one of Gerry’s many medical community connections!)
 
Through yet another connection, Gerry heard that the Springfield Ukrainian Church was gathering medical supplies, so she reached out to the church. They connected Gerry with Iryna, who was coordinating medical supplies and equipment through Medical Team International and Doctors Without Borders out of Portland. Iryna shared the immediate needs and told Gerry she could send a truck to collect any medical items H4H had to donate.
 
Within a week, the H4H team had sorted a significant amount medical supplies into 11 boxes, ready to be loaded into the truck.

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• Dressing supplies
• ACE wraps
• Wound cleansing supplies
• Bandages
• Braces of all kinds
• Oxygen tubing and suction items
• Skin care ointments
• Cushions
• Walking boots & splints
• Pressure relief items
• 40 cases incontinent pull up and briefs
• Catheter supplies
• Colostomy and urostomy supplies
• Pleuravacs
• Casting materials
• 12 hospital gowns
• 2 semi electric beds
• 6 mattresses
• 4 Wheelchairs
• 15 trifold walkers
• 3 FWWalkers
• 8 Quad canes
• 6 canes
• 4 plat-form walkers
• 6 sets crutches
• 2 Tilt-n-Space manual wheelchairs
• 6 bath chairs

​A semi-truck was sent to the warehouse to pick up the items collected. Our warehouse team worked with the Ukrainian driver to organize and load, then got a chance to rest and chat over some water and snacks. The driver expressed his gratitude for everything, knowing how much it would help his country. After his stop at our warehouse, he was headed to Eugene to pick up another donation before heading back to Portland. He shared that the smaller items will be taken by individuals traveling to Ukraine to help, while the larger items will be sent by cargo ship. (They had hoped to send more by cargo plane, but the cost was too high.)
 
While this endeavor reaches outside of our usual mission, our warehouse team is a passionate, resourceful group who saw an opportunity to help, and took it. We are so thankful for the dedicated volunteers who spend their time with us each week and connect us to opportunities like this.