Sorting and Packing Surplus Medical Supplies: Pittsburgh, PA
For over a decade, members of the Sri Sathya Sai Center of Pittsburgh, PA, have dedicated the second Saturday of each month to volunteering at Global Links. Established in 1989, Global Links ships surplus medical supplies from U.S. hospitals to public health systems in resource-scarce communities. The organization collaborates with international bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and Ministries of Health in various countries, in addition to local public health systems. Global Links has also cultivated invaluable community partnerships to carry out its mission, one of which is the Sri Sathya Sai Center of Pittsburgh.
About 5-10 individuals, including SSE children, participate each month in the service. They sort and pack items like blood pressure monitors, syringes, and wound care supplies (bandages, gauzes) to be shipped to communities in developing countries and local communities in Western Pennsylvania. The activity is a truly satisfying experience for volunteers to contribute to such a meaningful mission. The Center Service Coordinator emphasized the intense focused attention required when sorting and packing medical supplies like suture needles, IV tubes, catheters, face masks, and other surgical tools according to their expiration dates. He notes that despite the seeming tedium of the activity, it is still incredibly uplifting for the volunteers knowing they are making a significant impact in those resource-deprived communities.
Danny Tremblay, a volunteer coordinator with Global Links, underscored the vital role of volunteers, stating that the organization could not exist without volunteer help and expressed deep gratitude for the Pittsburgh Sai volunteers' assistance.
Stacy Bodow, the outreach and engagement manager for Global Links, echoed this sentiment in a thank you note to the center members: “Although the faces of people who volunteer with us have changed over the years, the dedication and commitment of the Sai group as a whole has not wavered. We appreciate the energy and focus that members bring. Not only do the Sai Center members provide standing monthly volunteer time to help us sort and pack medical supplies; they also take on extra projects outside of our building, like purchasing and assembling personal care kits to help our neighbors. Thank you, Sri Sathya Sai Center, for all that you do for people both locally and globally, and for being a valued partner that Global Links relies on to help us improve health for all.”
For more information on Global Links, visit https://globallinks.org.