Loading for El Salvador
We finally managed to send our long awaited container to El Salvador! Originally scheduled to be loaded last March, the container had to be cancelled when the beds slated to be included were recalled by Winnipeg Regional Health Authority hours before loading was to begin. Unfortunately, we had to vacate our warehouse space and we couldn’t reschedule the container until we were offered short-term use of warehouse space. Luckily for us, our partner hospitals had continued to collect supplies while we were closed so on Saturday, October 17th, we finally began loading this long overdue container. Thanks to our wonderful loadmasters Wayne and Paul and 11 members of the our local El Salvadorian community, the container was packed and secured by one o’clock! We usually are able to offer a decent number of beds, but with the closure we had fewer than usual, but we did have two birthing beds,…
IHC Christmas Party
Every year the IHC membership throws a Christmas Party for volunteers and it is always a fun time with good food and better company. It was a bit odd this year in that we found ourselves in exactly the same place we were a year ago – without a place to call home and no idea if this might be our last party together. Hopefully not, but it is hard to stay optimistic about our future when in a 12 month period we found a warehouse, got moved in, started replacing supplies lost in the fire and then finally had enough to fill our first container, this time to a few months later were loading our first container in months, then our second a month later. A slow down over the summer months and then back into the swing and then we found out we were losing our space and…
Sincere Thanks
From the moment we found out that we would, once again, have to move, our focus has been to ship out as much of our inventory as possible so that more reached communities-in-need AND less ended up in the landfill. Unfortunately, as we don’t have a new home yet, we have limited space with partners and supporters so we can only store our most important/valuable supplies/equipment. And with no false modesty, we did an amazing (if exhausting) job! Thank you to everyone involved with IHC for their dedication and commitment to achieving this amazing feat – well lots of amazing feats, including loading three containers in three days!! The commitment of our weekly volunteers meant that we had boxes packed and equipment serviced meant that we could get them out the loading bay door as fast as we could pack them in a container. And a special thank you to…
Loading for Nigeria
Today’s container was sponsored by NAYA which in the past has sent several containers to different provinces in Nigeria. This container is heading to Kano State Hospital and was filled with more than the usual number of beds (48) as well as exam tables, wheelchairs, walkers and crutches, a birthing bed, stretchers, an anaesthesia machine and a few hundred boxes of supplies. Barry was our loadmaster today, his fourth in the last 2 weeks – a record! The founder of NAYA expressed his deep appreciation to our organization for all that we have done, and continue to do, for the people of his country.
IHC AGM
This evening IHC held its 2019 Annual General Meeting – amazing to realize that we were still in our original Warehouse space for last year’s AGM! Nine months ago and two moves later, we have finally resumed normal operations at our new Warehouse. After the usual AGM business and elections for new Board Members were complete, our new Treasurer Paul shared his trip to Cambodia where he met with Delayne and Mike Weeks who have been instrumental in establishing a number of medical clinics in the country and have been partnering with with IHC for equipment and supplies for years. It was a wonderful evening and a great way to officially start our new year in our new Warehouse. Thank you to our outgoing Board Members for their commitment and hard work over the last year – we wouldn’t be here without your dedicated service!
IHC has a New Home!
IHC HAS A NEW HOME! We will need a couple of weeks to get all our rescued shelving and equipment cleaned and back in place and then we will finally be able to accept donations again. No news yet when we will have sufficient supplies for our first container, but hopefully with all our donors help, it won’t take long. Thank you to everyone who has helped us during our unplanned hiatus and we can’t wait to get back to work!
IHC Coffee Wednesdays
With the loss of our Warehouse in October, the IHC volunteers were left without an outlet for their (seemingly) endless energy. So while the IHC Executive works to find a new home, volunteers have arranged to meet twice monthly at the Army, Navy & Air Force (ANAVET) Legion on Empress Street. The first IHC Volunteer Coffee Wednesday morning took place today and was a great success with most of our volunteers dropping by to catch up on all the news!
IHC Christmas Party
Every year the IHC membership throws a great Christmas Party but this year’s was a little extra special. The food was as abundant and excellent as ever, the location was welcoming and the decorations were festive! The best part of the event, hands-down, was that everyone was together once again. When we lost our Warehouse two months ago today, we not only lost supplies and a lot of hard work but also our social meeting place. We have tried to stay connected since the Warehouse was destroyed but nothing beats a family reunion with lots of food and laughter!
Temporarily Closed
Earlier this week, a structural issue was identified at our new Warehouse space. IHC is suspending activities at the Warehouse to enable the property manager to work on a solution and to ensure the safety of our volunteers. Until the Warehouse reopens, we cannot accept any donations of surplus medical equipment or supplies. We apologize for the inconvenience. We will provide updates on when we are back in operation as we have them! If you have questions, please contact us at info @ internationalhope.ca or 204-774-1102
A Thank You to Our Volunteers
Tonight IHC held a party at our new Warehouse space to thank our volunteers for their incredibly hard work over the last three months. What we have managed to achieve in the last three months is a testament to the commitment and dedication of our membership, their family and friends. And there was cake!