1. What is FAMSCO and what does it do?
The Fire and Medical Supply Company - or FAMSCO - a "501(c)(3)" non-profit, humanitarian corporation, was founded in 1990 by the Rotarians of District 6000 of Iowa, USA in cooperation with District 4250 of Central America (Guatemala, Honduras and Belize). FAMSCO's purpose is to collect donated firefighting and medical equipment and supplies to be shipped to and distributed in Central America.

2. What kinds of goods are collected shipped and distributed?
Fire trucks, ambulances, and a number of school buses have been shipped to Central America for use by professional and volunteer fire departments. Equipment shipped has included firefighting equipment (coats, pants, boots, tools, hoses, pumps, etc.) and a broad range of medical equipment including X-Ray machines, dental chairs and sterilizing suites as well as simple equipment including wheelchairs, crutches and bedpans - and everything in between. Medical supplies such as bed linens, surgical fields, surgical scrubs, patient gowns, blankets and other consumables have made up a part of every shipment. To date, more than 70 vehicles and over two hundred tons of equipment and supplies have been shipped by FAMSCO to Central America and distributed by Rotarians there.

3. Where does FAMSCO find donated items for shipment to Central America?
Items are donated by municipal fire departments, hospitals, clinics, and individual medical and dental practices. FAMSCO also actively procures needed vehicles such as fire trucks, ambulances and school buses. Certification guidelines or requirements for these types of vehicles may require that they be retired at a certain age or mileage. Often FAMSCO is able to purchase de-certified (yet serviceable) vehicles at very reasonable prices.

4. How are donated items shipped?
Arranging logistics of storage, shipping and receiving and minimizing the cost of transportation are the most challenging part of what FAMSCO does. This includes assuring prompt and duty-free entry of goods into the destination country. This often requires the consent or cooperation of government authorities in the destination country. Usually a Rotary club in the destination country is in charge of arranging for the prompt and tax-free entry of FAMSCO shipments.
FAMSCO has employed a variety of methods to ship donated goods to Central America. Among these shipping arrangements are:
o Driving of loaded vehicles from Iowa to Central America
o Driving vehicles from Iowa to a port on the Gulf of Mexico and shipping vehicles by boat to Central America
o Transport of goods by air, utilizing the provisions of the Denton Amendment for the shipment of humanitarian goods
o Transport of goods in shipping containers (by semi trailer to a US port, then by ship to Central America, then by semi trailer to the final destination)

FAMSCO collaborates with another non-profit, humanitarian organization located in Tulsa, OK and known as Universal Heart, Inc. (formerly HART). Universal Heart was founded by Rotarians of District 6110 and its mission is, "...to assist charitable groups in orchestrating relief shipments and obtaining support funding to pay transportation costs wherever possible." With help from Universal Heart Director Jessica Settle, FAMSCO has been able to arrange for economically feasible shipping of donated humanitarian goods to Central America in 40' shipping containers. These containers are trucked to the Gulf Coast and then shipped by boat to a Central American port. From there they are trucked to the final destination in Central America. Universal Heart has also assisted FAMSCO in the shipment of uncontainerized vehicles.

5. Who pays the shipping costs for donated goods?
The most common arrangement is for FAMSCO to pay the entire cost of shipping; however, each shipment is treated individually and shipping costs may be paid by FAMSCO, by the Rotary Club(s) or organization(s) which is (are) receiving the shipment in the destination country, by other humanitarian organizations or by any combination of these.

6. How can I help?
FAMSCO is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable corporation and donations - in cash or in-kind - are tax deductible. Checks may be sent to:

If you have, or know of someone who has, vehicles or goods available for donation that would be of interest to FAMSCO, please contact us by e-mail and provide details of the vehicles or goods along with your contact information.