Mano a Mano has grown into 5 counterpart organizations in Minnesota and Bolivia, with many different projects, all in partnership with Bolivian communities to improve their lives. We started in 1994 with one simple goal: to save usable medical supplies that were destined for the landfill and send them to Bolivia, where we know that they could be put to good use. Since then, we have shipped over 4 million pounds of medical supplies, mobility equipment, and other items to Bolivia for distribution to people and organizations in need throughout the country. We sent 180,180 pounds to Bolivia in 2021, and we donated thousands of pounds of supplies to other organizations working in the Twin Cities and other countries around the world. Almost all of these supplies would have been thrown away.


Earth Day 2022

Today, April 22, 2022, is Earth Day, a time set aside to celebrate the Earth, learn about the environment, and promote conservation. The theme for this year’s event is “Invest in Our Planet.”

Here are a few articles about Mano a Mano’s efforts to recycle, reuse, and reduce waste in Minnesota over the past few years:

Minnesota has a waste problem. How do we fix it? (Article on TPT)

One local organization diverts reusable medical supplies from the landfill and transports them to Bolivia.


Mano a Mano Receives $10,000 Grant From BizRecycling


MN Waste Wise Success Story

“Through the BizRecycling grant, Mano a Mano was able to purchase equipment to improve the safety and efficiency of their donation processing and distribution and to reduce waste in their operations. This equipment included a new pallet jack with a scale to move and weigh items for shipment, a stable sorting station for volunteers to process donations, a dishwasher to reduce the use of paper products and other disposables, and recycling and compost containers.”

Non-profit sends medical supplies to Bolivia – and shares surplus at home (Article in Midway Como Frogtown Monitor)

Mano a Mano keeps medical supplies out of landfills.

Learn More About Mano a Mano’s Recovered Resources Program

Pictures From Our St. Paul Office in 2021