Charity Spotlight

It's kind of like a recycling program for health.

MedShare International collects surplus medical supplies and gives them to facilities in less fortunate countries. Since 1998, they've shipped 450 40-foot containers, saving "over 1 million cubic feet of landfill space," says spokeswoman Holly Frew. "The majority of shipments go to Latin America and Africa."

The supplies come from hospitals, medical distributors and individuals, explains Frew. They range from sterile needles and gauze to surgical equipment and ultrasound machines.

"MedShare has a dual mission in that we are impacting both the environment and global health care," Frew says. "We are collecting medical supplies and equipment that would be going into our landfills and putting them in the hands of people all over the world that desperately need them for survival."

Donated money helps pay for shipping. You can also help sort in their Decatur, Ga., or San Leandro, Calif., distribution sites.

Article originally appeared in March/April 2009 print magazine.

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