Looking back on the months gone by,
As a new year starts and an old one ends,
We contemplate what brought us joy,
And we think of our loved ones and our friends.

Recalling all the happy times,
Remembering how they enriched our lives,
We reflect upon who really counts,
As the fresh and bright new year arrives.

And when we ponder those who do,
we immediately think of you.

Thanks for being one of the reasons
We’ll have a Happy New Year!

 By Joanna Fuchs

Activity Report for 2009 Released

12/9/09: Container# MSCU 987540 0. The Haitian coalition of Philadelphia, and the consul general sponsored this shipment to two hospitals in Haiti. Also the ministry of health in Haiti will receive the shipment and direct the distribution of items. Out last container for this group was a great success in January of 2008, so we are excited about elevating these hospitals, as well as having the local Haitian community participate in the fundraising. There is much more to be accomplished and we are planning additional containers for February 2010. Also a group from Philadelphia will meet the container in Haiti, and help distribute the humanitarian cargo. Two 40’ containers went to Haiti in 2009!                           

11/24/09: Container# PONU 762163. The consulate of Panama, Georgia Athanasopulos who is also the chairperson of the consulate corps here in Philadelphia, decided to ship to the children’s hospital in Panama City. Panama has 3 million residents, and our focus was on wheelchairs for children, cribs, and many other pediatric related items. This shipment was received by the first lady of Panama, and we provided an enormous amount of material donated by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Over 15 wheelchairs for children came from CHOP, and future containers are planned for Panama.

We would like to say “Thank you” to all our volunteers. 
Saturday was truly an awesome day. It showed how the Villanova community cares about those less fortunate than we.
We could not have done it without your help!

9/19/09: Container# CRXU 485876 3. Anne Sayre from Atlanta Georgia along with friends from Pittsburgh and Georgia built a new clinic in Cohabon, Guatemala. This clinic in the mountains will provide area residents a complete birthing center and pediatric facility. Once again Lansdale hospital provided an enormous amount of maternity equipment from their former birthing unit. Birthing beds, basinets, and infant monitors came from Lansdale Hospital, while OBGYN exam tables came from the Lower Bucks County Hospital in Bristol, PA. The cribs came from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Villanova nursing students, faculty and some family members loaded the container. They were excited that they were part of fully equipping a new clinic in Guatemala, Mission Relief has many friends at Villanova.

9/2/09: Container# GVCU 502333. The Coatesville VA hospital donated 39 new IV poles to the Pan American Development Foundation. Mission Relief picked them up, and later added 40 hospital beds and mattresses to a container for Columbia, South America and one of PADF’s projects. Lansdale Hospital donated the Hill-Rom electric beds, and is getting new beds and stretchers.

Villanova University’s
St Thomas of Villanova Celebration
Day of Service

Location: Coatesville, Pennsylvania
Date: September 19, 2009
Time: 9 am – 3 pm

8/28/09: Container #CBFU 3439218 This very special container was shipped to our friends at Hospital San Lorenzo in southern Honduras. The hospital has been completely renovated, and Mission Relief and CARE are equipping the entire facility. A C-arm x-ray and surgical equipment from the orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Matthews of Lancaster was shipped in this container. Furnishings and additional items were collected in Baltimore. Marvin Hernandez and his young son Steven participated in the loading of the container, and they could choose what they wanted for the hospital. Steven’s English is excellent, and it was very special having a young Honduran present.

8/4/09: Container# MSCU 869251 Hospital Sacre Coeur in Milot Haiti was the recipient of this July container. This well established hospital is supported by the Crudem Foundation of Boston, Massachusetts, and they were the sponsors of this shipment. Mission Relief provided hurricane relief supplies and logistical support for the hospital in 2008, and this year we shipped a full container right out of Coatesville directly to the hospital. St. Francis Hospital of Wilmington, Delaware provided a large quantity of linen for this project.