Dinita Thomas, warehouse manager and Erin Belitskus, development and volunteer coordinator in BBF Pennsylvania, and BBF’s Vice President Karen Dempsey welcome guests to BBF anniversary event.
Brother’s Brother Foundation, one of the nation’s leading charitable organizations recently celebrated its first anniversary in the D.C. metro area with an open house that brought together more than 100 guests. Touted internationally, since 2009, as one of the most efficient charities, Brother’s Brother Foundation promotes international health and education through the efficient and effective distribution and provision of donated medical, educational and other resources.
Ruth Anderson, director, Virginia Supply Program for Brother’s Brother Foundation / Northern Virginia said the importance of the new location can be found in the ongoing need for equipment and supplies at area hospitals, far removed from their headquarters in Pittsburgh.
“ receives medical equipment and donations from a large geographic area; however, because of their distance away from this D.C. metro area, which has many hospital systems with dozens of hospitals, it was important to launch a new location for collecting donations and shipping donations in this area,” Anderson said. “Hospitals are continually changing out beds, other equipment and updating their supplies. As they bring in more modern equipment and newer supplies, their desire is to recycle (versus throw away in a landfill) the old items. BBF provides a way for them to recycle and partner with humanitarian work at the same time…and prevents usable items from being put in landfills.”
Since the launch last year, BBF has picked up donations from 15 medical facility locations in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. which
had not previously donated supplies. BBF provides a service to these facilities while at the same time receiving donations.
BBF is one of only three charities rated by Forbes to earn 100 percent fundraising efficiency and 100 percent charitable commitment. In addition to celebrating their one year anniversary in the area, the open house, held July 26 in Fairfax, gave potential volunteers and the larger community an opportunity to learn more about the organization.
“This location picks up and ships supplies just as the Pittsburgh location does. One additional process the Virginia location is responsible for…is a major sorting function.
Medical manufacturers and hospitals often donate packs of outdated surgical trays and miscellaneous equipment. Staff and volunteers open all of the trays and boxes and retrieve thousands of usable items,” Anderson said.
Dorothy Hess, a retired nurse, living in McLean, called BBF’s efforts a godsend for area hospitals. Having witnessed the rise in the cost of both services and equipment during her 28 years at D.C. General Hospital, Hess said donations and volunteers become critical to providing quality medical services.
“The D.C. area is full of hospitals that are struggling and dealing with patients who have chronic conditions that require more than triage or clinic services. Some of that burden is lifted when you have core materials and equipment donated,” Hess, 67, said.
For more information, visit: brothersbrother.org
