April is National Volunteer Month. We take a pause and acknowledge our volunteers who make our organization viable and far reaching. We also pause to honor a great donor who recently passed away, Dr. Davis.
This month read about our Medika Mamba program and see the many young lives impacted by this program. Finally, learn about our fundraising events in May including our 25th Anniversary celebration event at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas and the Caring Hearts online auction.
Dr. Mitchell Davis
(Photo by Bill O’Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
We are very sad to report the sudden passing of Dr. Mitchell Davis, a long time supporter of Medical Missionaries. He died unexpectedly on February 27th in Washington DC after a brief illness. Dr. Mitchell gave over $4 million to organizations that he felt would have a significant impact. The Washington Post wrote an article on Dr. Davis, his life and generosity in 2017
Dr. Davis was instrumental in supporting many Medical Missionaries projects over the years. Dr. Davis will be missed by the many thousands of people he helped through his generous philanthropy.
May he rest in peace.
Spotlight: All of our Volunteers
National Volunteer Month celebrates the impact that volunteers have on our daily lives and encourages active volunteerism. Volunteers generously donate a part of their lives to do all sorts of work — cleaning up after an event, fostering shelter dogs, chaperoning field trips, helping the librarian; there are so many areas that need volunteers in order to flourish.
Since its inception 25 years ago, Medical Missionaries has welcomed over 200 volunteers who work on projects locally and globally. Medical Missionaries salutes volunteers for their unwavering services to communities and hold aloft their examples to inspire young people and adults towards volunteerism.
Volunteers at Medical Missionaries wear many hats: travel to Haiti, work on social media, design marketing materials, organize fundraisers, pack boxes/trucks/containers, organize food donations, speak about Medical Missionaries in the community, and so much more. It is very rewarding to work together for those in need and every day brings something different to the table.
We are grateful for each and every volunteer that has walked through our door and we look forward to working together during our 25th year and the years to come.d
Medika Mamba- Restoring Health to Malnourished Children in Haiti and Around the World
Haiti’s Central Plateau, where St. Joseph Clinic is located, is home to one of the highest rates of childhood malnutrition in the Americas. It is estimated that one in five children live with malnourishment, and one in fourteen die before reaching the age of five. Our Medika Mamba program is helping safeguard children from these staggering statistics. Medical Missionaries purchases the food supplement from the Medika Mamba warehouse in Cap-Haitien, Haiti for the many malnourished children in the Clinic’s service area.
Medical Missionaries has a long history of supporting the region by purchasing and supplying medika mamba. You can read some of our previous stories on Medika Mamba at our website. These include treating childhood malnutrition, this update and this update.
Quick Facts
- What’s is Medika Mamba? Medika Mamba is a nutritional supplement (RUTF/ready to use therapeutic food) made of ground roasted peanuts, powdered milk, cooking oil, sugar, vitamins and minerals.
- How long does treatment take? Medika Mamba restores 90% of severely malnourished children to health in two to three months. A typical treatment program takes 25 pounds of Medika Mamba per child.
- How effective is Medika Mamba? Within six weeks of starting treatment, 90% of children on Medika Mamba recover, far better than the 25% survival rate with older, milk-based treatments.
A Story of Success
The Medika Mamba Program at St. Joseph Clinic has been very successful in treating childhood malnutrition, greatly improving the future lives of the children receiving the treatment. One such story is that of a 9 month old baby girl, who was diagnosed at St. Joseph Clinic with HIV and severe malnourishment. This baby was enrolled in our Medika Mamba program with a below average weight. The nutrition she received combined with medical treatment ultimately saved her life. At the time of her discharge, her weight had doubled and her health and vibrancy had been restored. This is a story the Clinic staff see repeated everyday.
We are thankful for our donors and supporters who give so that children such as the one whose story is shared here have a good start in life.
Fundraising News
Caring Hearts Online Auction
May 13-29: The auction is just around the corner and will be online so please share with your networks so we can get people from all over the world bidding. We are hoping to have over 100 items featuring some Native American art, Haitian art, and plenty of gift cards.
If you would like to contribute, please consider giving gift cards for the auction, they are our best sellers!
25th Anniversary Event at Harris Pavilion
Join us May 21st at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. to celebrate 25 years of Medical Missionaries helping the poorest of the poor around the globe. We will have elaborate dioramas for you to tour to learn more about our projects. There will be live music from Dr. Mike Morch and his band. There will be raffles, concessions and children’s games.
Event is free and open to the public.
Supplies and Equipment On the Move
Dominion Women’s Club: Idalia Hill and her group have generously been donating medical supplies.
Amazon: 7 pallets of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) donated by the Manassas Amazon warehouse.
Rocklick Food Pantry, Grundy, Va: Volunteer JD hitched the food trailer to his truck for the drive to and from Roanoke, Va. where he met the Rocklick team to deliver this month’s food. Thanks to Food Rescue and our local donors!
Arrival of Container in Ivory Coast: The medical supplies and equipment that were donated to Medical Missionaries have arrived to the hospital of Bonoua, located in a small town on the outskirts of the main city Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The local news covered the joyous arrival of the container. Though the broadcast is in French, our volunteers Nick and Emily helped to translate the video, in which they share the news that the donations will be put to good use for people in the area.
Ivory Coast Container: Just as one arrives, another is packed and sent. Many thanks to the many volunteers who came out to stuff this container to the max.
