Despite some shipping costs increasing by 150% and other new shipping challenges due to COVID, Mano a Mano shipped 7 containers with 180,180 pounds of medical supplies and equipment from Minnesota to Bolivia in 2021. (We averaged 187,951 pounds shipped over the previous 4 years.) 276 organizations in Bolivia received supplies and equipment from Mano a Mano last year.
In addition, we also distributed tens of thousands of pounds of supplies to other nonprofits and to people in need locally in the Twin Cities. All of these supplies would have ended up in local landfills; instead they are helping people in Bolivia, Minnesota, and other countries.
276 Organizations in Bolivia Received Supplies and Equipment
- 215 organizations received medical supplies and equipment (which includes mobility supplies and equipment)
- 34 organizations received mobility supplies and equipment specifically
- 12 organizations received physical therapy items specifically (PT items were also included in many of the medical supplies distributions for health organizations)
- 15 schools and organizations received school supplies (with a total school population of 550)
- 421 individuals received medical supplies and mobility equipment
Distributed 10,361 Mobility Aids
Mano a Mano Internacional distributed 10,361 mobility aids to organizations (including our counterpart organization Mano a Mano Bolivia) and individuals throughout Bolivia, which includes the following items:
- 574 wheelchairs
- 2,211 walkers
- 3,268 pairs of crutches
- 3,501 canes
- Other items including specialty wheelchairs, walkers with seats and wheels, etc.
This is one wheelchair given to Gustavo in Trinidad in May 2021:
Volunteers in Bolivia Contributed 8,912 Hours
Mano a Mano depends on volunteers to complete our work. While this work is challenging enough in normal circumstances, 2021 was not normal; we are very grateful to the dedication and commitment of volunteers and staff that had to navigate a global pandemic for the second consecutive year. The number of hours in 2021 for this distribution program was nearly double the hours volunteered in 2020 (4,981 hours volunteered in 2020). Thank you to the medical, dental, and other healthcare professionals; university students; nursing students; volunteers from abroad; volunteer groups from civic and governmental organizations in Bolivia; Mano a Mano staff that contributed extra time; and everyone that gives their time to make these distributions possible! These volunteer hours only include time spent with our counterpart organization Mano a Mano Internacional and do not include the thousands of hours of volunteer time contributed with our 4 other counterpart organizations (3 in Cochabamba and 1 in St. Paul, Minnesota).
More Information About Medical Distributions Made in Bolivia in 2021:
- A Look Back At What We Did Together in 2021 – Mano a Mano 2021 Annual Report
- Providing Medical Supplies for the Centro Integral Guanay
- Distributing Medical Supplies for 2 Health Centers in La Paz, Bolivia
- Medical Supply Distributions in Palos Blancos and Quillacollo Last Week
- Equipping Mano a Mano’s Network of Clinics and Other Healthcare Organizations Throughout Bolivia
- Donating Medical Supplies for 24 Health Centers in Potosi
- Wisconsin Fire Equipment in Action in Bolivia
- Distributing Medical Supplies For 8 Health Centers in Tarija
- Containers Leaving Our Minnesota Warehouse & Containers Arriving at Our Bolivia Warehouse
- “Non-profit sends medical supplies to Bolivia – and shares surplus at home” – Mano a Mano Article in the Longfellow Nokomis Messenger
- Loading Containers for Bolivia
- Donating Medical Supplies for Hospitals in Cochabamba
- 3 Containers with Medical Supplies & Equipment Arriving at Our Warehouse in Cochabamba, Bolivia
- Providing Medical Supplies & Equipment for 22 Health Centers in Puerto Villarroel, Bolivia
- Greenhouses, Training, and Sorting Medical Supplies for Donation: Our CEA Over the Next Few Weeks
- Recovered Resources Program This Week: Donating Supplies in Minnesota & Bolivia
- Distributing Medical Supplies to 18 Oruro-Area Health Centers in Bolivia
- 46,000+ Pounds of Supplies Are on Their Way to Bolivia
- Environmental Initiative Awards Honorable Mention
- Donating a Wheelchair for Gustavo in Trinidad, Bolivia
- Supporting COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign in Cochabamba with Wheelchairs from Mano a Mano
- Donating a Walker to a Woman in Laguna Sulti, Bolivia
- Donating Medical Supplies by Plane in Baures and Two Hospitals in Oruro
- Distributing Medical Supplies and Equipment in Bolivia – March/April 2021
- Donating a Wheelchair for Pascuala in Beni, Bolivia
- Volunteer Spotlight: Dianne Making Layettes in South Dakota for Newborns in Bolivia
- Distributing Medical Supplies and Equipment for Mano a Mano Bolivia
- Exchanging Supplies with HERO Fargo
- Volunteer Spotlight: Larry Refurbishes Sewing Machines for Bolivia
- Mano a Mano Ships Medical Supplies to Bolivia…and Much More