In its 20th anniversary year, FAMSCO (Fire And Medical Supply COmpany) of Rotary District 6000 accomplished two major shipments early this year that would make its founders smile.
With Rotary partners in Guatemala and El Salvador on the receiving, distribution end of the partnership, major impact has been made consistent with the mission and name of FAMSCO.
FIRE TRUCK
A fire truck from Stone Park, Illinois, was shipped to Huehuetenango, Guatemala, and put into service on May 3.An hour after the truck was fully operational it was used to respond to a hazmat call.The impact of this equipment is just the latest in an ongoing relationship that dates back to Rotary associations made through a water project in 2004.That lead to the five MOST (Miles of Smiles Team) surgical missions and, most recently, grew to include the firefighters and first responders.Vinicio Lopez and two firefighters visited District 6000 last June and received education, orientation and training to complement their training in Huehuetenango.The new truck is in service and there is additional fire and rescue equipment in the FAMSCO warehouse ready for shipment.
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
In mid-May a container with 13 tons of medical equipment arrived in El Salvador for distribution by Jorge Tolentino and the Rotarians of Sirama-San Miguel to a public hospital.Indianola Rotarian and FAMSCO board member Don Hampton was instrumental in making the contacts and is visiting his El Salvador friends to see the equipment put to work. The Rotary Club of Indianola contributed $1,000 to help defray the more than $5,000 cost for the shipment of hospital beds and exam tables as well as miscellaneous equipment such as walkers, over bed tables, physical therapy tables, tanks and equipment.
The tedious task of loading the container (the back part of a semi trailer) with 13 tons of equipment was completed at the FAMSCO warehouse on April 28.With John Ockenfels operating the fork lift and skillfully balancing stacks of heavy hospital beds and unwieldy exam tables, the Rotary volunteers hand carried smaller items to be loaded around the big ones!
FAMSCO Board Members and volunteers have really lived up to the mission in the early months of 2010, aided by the generous donations of other Rotarians.The Ames Rotarians helped identify great hospital beds from Green Hills Retirement Center and the Carroll Rotarians found and delivered an excellent ambulance cot that will go to Guatemala with the fire and rescue equipment.Muscle power is important, but the procurement of items from Rotarians throughout the district and the financial donations such as the ones recently made by the Indianola and Davenport clubs put the equipment to work in a speedy fashion.
September 2010 Shipment to Huehuetenango
An early September shipment from FAMSCO was sent to Huehuetenango, Guatemala. This is the latest in a long established relationship with this Central American city including past MOST (Miles Of Smiles Team) missions and on-going involvement with the Huehuetenango firefighters and emergency responders.This shipment included equipment for the firefighters (some of whom received training in Iowa) and were recipients of a fire truck through FAMSCO last year.It also included school supplies for Nuevo Eden, medical supplies for Casa Colibri and a dental chair that the Iowa MOST participants will use next February in their mission there.
Once loaded, this shipment was made up of 35 pallets and 12 stretchers, gurneys and backboards.The shipment was received by the Associacio Club Rotario de Huehuetenango.Although FAMSCO has a long relationship with Guatemala shipments, this is the first one to benefit from the new Guatemalan law that allows shipments of humanitarian goods to Rotary clubs to enter duty free.
Rows and stacks of packed gaylords on their shipping pallets were ready in the FAMSCO warehouse for their transfer to Guatemala Rotarians for distribution.
District Governor Gary Welch and his wife Colleen were in Iowa City to witness the loading of a FAMSCO shipment for Guatemala.Pictured with the Welch’s are John Ockenfels, driving the fork lift used for loading, and Bernie Cremers, Iowa City Club president.
Medical Students Day of Service
University of Iowa first year medical students started their professional preparation on August 18, 2010, with a Medical School Orientation “Day of Service.”Twenty students worked for more than two hours at the FAMSCO (Fire And Medical Supply Company) warehouse in Coralville inventorying and packing 13 gaylords (huge packing crates) with donated medical supplies.The activity was organized by Gerald Wickham, West Liberty Rotarian, who is the co-chair of clinical experiences for the Carver College of Medicine. Second year medical student Priyanka Rao, a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar and frequent Xicotepec participant, served as group leader for the new students in this special community volunteer work.The 150 new medical students were dispatched to nine local organizations.
FAMSCO's new warehouse
40' Container shipment to Guatemala includes ultrasound unit
In July 2003, FAMSCO shipped a 40' container with a cargo of nearly 14,000 lbs. to Juan Forster of the Guatemala Sur Rotary Club of Guatemala City. Juan is a long-time FAMSCO supporter and collaborator and perhaps the most well-known Rotarian in all of Central America. Included in the shipment is an ultrasound machine which was specifically requested by Juan for use in a women's' clinic. In addition to the usual broad assortment of medical equipment and supplies, this shipment also included a substantial amount of school furniture for use at the Nuevo Amanecer Primary School, which serves a very poor community on the southern edge of Guatemala City. District 6000 has been a supporter of this school since it was rebuilt after being destroyed by Hurricane Mitch.
40' Container shipment to El Salvador will help under-equipped hospitals
FAMSCO shipped a 40’ container to the Salvadoran organization Gift of Life for distribution there. This is the third such container shipped to Gift of Life and as in the past the contents will be donated to hospitals and clinics in various parts of El Salvador. Included in the shipment were several dental chairs, a dental X-ray machine, wheelchairs, gurneys, and many other medical goods and supplies, in all about 15,000 lbs. worth.
Iowa Hospital Association agrees to help
Rotarian Linda Muston has been appointed Coordinator of Procurement to establish a network of private and institutional donors of equipment. With the assistance of the Iowa Hospital Association, Linda has been able to introduce FAMSCO as an alternative for transfer of operational medical equipment to needy clinics and hospitals in Central America. Donations to FAMSCO are classified as charitable gifts.
Fire Truck for Xicotepec, Puebla, Mexico
FAMSCO acquired a Fire Truck for Xicotepec from the Oxford Iowa Fire Department in August 2002 and contracted delivery in conjunction with the humanitarian team mission in March 2003 to the Rotary Club of Xicotepec, Mexico.
More than a dozen Interact and Rotaract members from Ames, Iowa City, Jefferson and Davenport participated as members of the humanitarian mission team to Xicotepec. Rotarians helped sponsor team members by pledging United Frequent Flyer Miles to help defray costs.
Dallas Center Rotarians get fired up
Rotary Club sends equipment to Mexico
Rotaract and Interact provide heavy lifting support for old geezers
In December 2002 University of Iowa Rotaractors gave a much appreciated hand to FAMSCO by packing, palletizing and inventorying some 40 large cartons (known as gaylords) and helping to unload a 53-foot semi trailer filled with school furniture obtained by the Dallas Center Rotary Club. Most of the gaylords have now been shipped to El Salvador and Guatemala. Part of the school furniture has also been shipped to Guatemala.
Fishers, Indiana RC provides fire truck to Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico with FAMSCO's help
In November, 2002, FAMSCO shipped a fire truck to the town of Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. The donation of the truck was arranged in collaboration with the Fishers, Indiana Rotary Club, the Santa Anita Rotary Club and the Lomas de Zapopan Rotary Club (both of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico). The Fishers club provided funds for the purchase of the fire truck, and the Mexican clubs provided funds for shipping the fire truck. This will be the first fire truck ever in the city of Tequila and it will provide service to an area with a population of over 300,000.
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
An early September shipment from FAMSCO was sent to Huehuetenango, Guatemala. This is the latest in a long established relationship with this Central American city including past MOST (Miles Of Smiles Team) missions and on-going involvement with the Huehuetenango firefighters and emergency responders.
