Mano a Mano’s Minnesota Surplus Program
For 22+ years, Mano a Mano has collected millions of pounds of medical supplies in Minnesota – most of which would end up in the trash – and shipped them to Bolivia for distribution to Mano a Mano clinics, other organizations, and people in need.
These shipments have included a lot of wheelchairs.
In our most recent February shipment alone, we shipped 198 wheelchairs.
The Basic Ways These Supplies Are Distributed in Bolivia
Once these supplies get to our warehouse in Cochabamba, Bolivia, they are distributed throughout the country in a few basic ways:
- as part of large distribution events where many organizations come to pick up supplies at the warehouse
- smaller shipments directly to organizations, like this recent shipment of supplies to San Ignacio de Moxos on the Mano a Mano plane
- people coming to the warehouse directly for a specific item – like Saturdays to pick up wheelchairs
Distributing Wheelchairs Every Saturday in Cochabamba
Every Saturday, people that have heard about the availability of supplies through friends and family stop by to pick up wheelchairs. On a recent Saturday, four people received loans or donations of wheelchairs.
This young man had been in an accident and came to Mano a Mano for a wheelchair to use during the ~3 month recovery process:
It’s a long journey for these supplies to get from Minnesota to Bolivia, but every single item sent can make a big difference in people’s lives.
Join Us on July 23, 2017 at Mano a Mano’s Warehouse in St. Paul, MN
Mano a Mano is hosting our 8th annual fundraising festival, held for the first time at our office/warehouse in St. Paul! The focus of the event will be on Mano a Mano’s surplus program, and will include tours of the warehouse, live music, food and drinks. All funds raised will go to support Mano a Mano’s next shipment of supplies to Bolivia; the need in Bolivia is always great, and our Minnesota warehouse is almost completely full of supplies.