It’s been pretty busy at work this holiday season, but I wanted to write one more post about HERO. Swanson Health Products is giving away $1,000 to a nonprofit based on a blog post by a dedicated supporter. I’m writing this in hopes of bringing a Christmas Present I could only imagine giving to HERO.
HERO, Healthcare Equipment Recycling Organization collects and redistributes donated healthcare supplies to benefit those in need in our local and global community. People come to HERO for many reasons. Juan was the victim of a shooting. His recovery time for his wounds were taking a long time and he ultimately lost his job. After he was released from the Hospital, he didn’t have the funds to cover the cost of his wound care supplies. A nurse told him about HERO. He has been receiving gauze, saline, and many other supplies for no cost. When I was talking with him, Juan said, “Without you guys, I don’t know how I would have done it. I don’t know. I’d be lost”. Shirley is partially deaf and blind. She has been using an electric wheelchair to get around, but sometimes feels unsafe. She had been looking for a manual wheelchair that had a drop-down arm and that was affordable for 10 years. She found HERO and her wheelchair. With a beaming smile, Shirley said “It’s a miracle. I finally have my chair”. HERO helps people like Juan and Shirley every day.
HERO began in 1996 by a group of O.R. Nurses who wanted to do something about the usable waste the hospital threw away. They started collecting it in a donated storage unit to give to medical mission teams. In 15 years it has grown to a retail store, warehouse, and office space of over 6,000 feet. In 2010 HERO served 1,912 individuals locally and 55 medical mission teams who traveled all over the world. In one year, HERO can save 48 tons of usable equipment and supplies that would have otherwise gone to a landfill. All of this is able to be cleaned and redistributed to people like Juan and Shirley who are in desperate need.
HERO has big plans to have branch locations in other communities. If HERO can serve this many people in Fargo, ND-Moorhead, MN and surrounding areas- just think how many tons of supplies could be reused by people who need it! In order to keep HERO running, let alone growing, staff and board rely on grants and individual donations. $1,000 can go a long way and could provide 125 people with a bag of wound care supplies.
By helping to keep usable supplies out of the landfill HERO changes and saves lives.
