International relief: Cuban plea for medical help obtains tremendous results

International relief: Cuban plea for medical help obtains tremendous results

Dear Editor,

Last August the Langley Advance published a letter outlining the work of
MEMO Cuba - Medical Equipment Modernization Opportunity - established in
2004 by the Evangelical Free Church of Canada. In that letter [Cuban
hospitals need help ASAP, Aug. 15 Letters, Langley Advance] we made a
request for ostomy supplies and used bed linens, which are in extremely
short supply in hospitals in Cuba.

I am pleased to report that the response has been much greater than we
ever anticipated. Last week Evergreen Pharmacy in Langley donated 162
boxes of ostomy supplies worth more than $10,000. We are overwhelmed.

Local co-ordinator Janet Martens of Lang-ley Evangelical Free Church and
her husband Dave have packed the boxes for immediate shipment to MEMO
Cuba's headquarters in Thunder Bay, Ont., from where they will be
forwarded to Cuba - along with other donated supplies - at the earliest
possible date.

This is just one of several shipments the church has organized in the
past four months.

We have received good used bed linens from many individuals in the
community. And there are those who have lost a loved one and have
graciously donated no longer needed ostomy supplies.

The palliative care unit at Langley Memorial Hospital, nursing homes in
the area, and MSA Hospital in Abbotsford have also given whatever they
were able.

On behalf of MEMO Cuba volunteers at Langley Evangelical Free Church, I
sincerely thank all who have so generously contributed, even taking the
extra time to deliver the items directly to the church.

The need remains. Langley Evangelical Free Church, on the corner of
208th Street and 48th Avenue will continue to accept all donated bed
linens and ostomy supplies.

We are also excited about an opportunity to partner with MEMO Cuba
supporters in Kelowna by helping fill a shipment container that will be
sent to Cuba this spring. They have received a large number of hospital
beds, and welcome additional donations of medical equipment and
supplies. The project founder, Dr. Jerome Harvey, will advise as to the
suitability of donations.

For information contact Janet Martens at 604-538-2878 or the church
office at 604-530-7161.

God bless you for caring.

Doris Riedweg, Langley

published on 01/23/2007

http://langleyadvance.com/issues07/014107/opinion/014207le9.html