Update From Haiti
St. Joseph Clinic staff reported that Haiti has a new Prime Minister, Garry Conille, who leads a nine-person “transitional council.” Haitians are hopeful that this step will reduce the gang violence in Port-Au-Prince. The UN Kenyan peacekeepers, are expected to arrive in Port au Prince in the coming weeks to provide support for the in-country police force.
Our US team has been working with several organizations since October of 2023 to get medications to St. Joseph Clinic in Haiti. We recently found out that about 80% of what was ordered has arrived in Haiti and is going through customs. We hope that the medicines will make it to St. Joseph Clinic in the coming weeks.
Junior Charles Saint-Fleur, the St. Joseph Clinic manager, discussed updating the lab and is seeking local Haitian partnerships in order to get lab supplies and other assistance. Junior has also been updating one of the structures on site that has been used as sleeping quarters for visitors.
Supplies and Equipment In and Out
Ukraine: Medical Missionaries received an email that the patient monitor we sent to Ukraine via the Traveling Colonels network has arrived and is up and running! Dr. Vitaly and the Mayor of Kyiv sent thanks!
Jamaica Student Project: Medical Missionaries is grateful to Divya, an exceptional high school student from Miami, Florida, and her family! As an International Baccalaureate student, Divya researched our organization and selected us for her project. Together with her fellow students, she collected non-perishable food and hygiene products, which they delivered to our office this month.
Divya chose Rev. Russell’s mission in Jamaica as the beneficiary of her project. The boxes have been loaded into Rev. Russell’s U-Haul and will be on their way to Jamaica this summer.
If any students are interested in undertaking a project like Divya’s, please let us know!
Grundy, W. Virginia: We are working to fill up a food trailer with food and other necessities for the Rocklick Food Pantry. We hope to drive it to Grundy in July. We welcome all donations of non-perishable food at the office. We also accept deliveries from Amazon, Walmart etc. You can find a list of needed items at our website.
Please send email to info@medicalmissionaries.org if you are sending donations through an online service.
Local Donations: Our doors are open to collect or distribute in-person donations Monday thru Saturday, 8am to noon. After hours donations can be left or picked up in the white truck in front of the office.
Every donation goes to someone in need. As Dr. Irwin says, “If we didn’t take these supplies they would end up in the landfill.”
Please consult our summer ’24 list of items we can accept. Any questions, call the office at 703-335-1800. It is helpful if we know you are coming!
This year we are tracking the number of donors and clients. In May, we had 81 donors and 40 clients that we supported.
Windy Knoll Farm: We had a lovely visit this month with Helen Taylor from Windy Knoll Farm, Nokesville Va. She is excited that Medical Missionaries will be hosting our Autumn Celebration at Windy Knoll Farms again on October 19th. Please save the date so that you can join us!
Dr. Irwin gifted Windy Knoll Farm his beautiful painting as a thank you for all that Helen and Don Taylor do for Medical Missionaries
Manassas Rotary Club: Medical Missionaries was invited to present at the monthly meeting of the Manassas Rotary Club on June 26th at the Manassas Baptist Church. Our presentation was well received as we shared information about our local, regional, and international projects.
We are grateful for the opportunity to spend time with this dedicated and committed group of Rotarians. If you have a group who is interested in our work, please let us know!
Warehouse: In a recent newsletter Medical Missionaries mentioned how the organization is looking for inexpensive or donated warehouse space. Below, pictures show Dr. Irwin and Carolyn working in the existing “warehouse” — which is actually several containers located in a trucking company parking lot.
Please reach out to our office (703-335-1800) if you can help us with this endeavor.
“If you can’t feed a hundred people, feed just one.”
Mother Teresa, founder of The Missionaries of Charity
