Clockwise from top left: A woman awaits assistance in Ghana; Team UPS volunteers at SOS with Laura Lane, EVP and Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer; floating in floodwater in Volta, Ghana; Valley High Allied Health students pause for a photo in the SOS warehouse, and a canine resident at Arthur Street Hotel gets some love.

SOS BRINGS DISASTER RELIEF TO FLOOD-RAVAGED GHANA

Just weeks after our SOS team returned from their October trip to Ghana, heavy downpours came to the region of Volta, causing the Volta River Authority to open the flood gates on their largest hydroelectric dam. The spillage flooded hundreds of communities along the Volta River-- submerging farms, homes and businesses and displacing 26,000 people.

Fortunately, St. Anne's Hospital, which had received a huge shipment from SOS last year, was not in the affected area, but the need for disaster relief was overwhelming. Working with parliamentarian Sam Ablakwa and director of public Health, Dr. Momoudou Cham, SOS delivered 1,801 pounds of humanitarian aid including PPE supplies, gloves, BP cuffs, knee braces, splints, slings, dressings and medications that were used to create emergency clinics to serve thousands of residents-- many of whom had lost everything. "It was devastating to see this region we had just visited be so ravaged by this flooding," says Denise Sears, SOS President & CEO. "But it was gratifying to be able to respond quickly with meaningful disaster relief."

A gift of $15 can help us provide emergency exams and care for displaced children and adults. Please consider helping a community fighting to improve their health outcomes.

SOS RUSHES AID TO UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS & THEIR PETS

The offer of help went out right before the freezing cold temperatures earlier this month. Bracing for the brutal weather, SOS President & CEO Denise Sears put out the call to those who provide shelter to our neighbors who are without homes. One of her first went to Susan Buchino, recently appointed director of the Arthur Street Hotel, a temporary residence for the unhoused, and it came just in time. "It was one of those weeks where I was so busy that I couldn't even pick up the phone to ask for help and suddenly Denise calls and says, 'Tell us what we can do and we will be there,'" says Susan. "We had a wounded resident who was sleeping on an air mattress and I asked, 'What are the chances you have a hospital bed?'"

As soon as Susan shared the urgency of their situation, SOS rushed to deliver-- bringing the bed, first aid supplies and some personal hygiene items to help them prepare for the expected new slew of residents. After that first delivery, Susan shared Arthur Street's many pressing needs. "We are blessed with resources in terms of funding, but we have to find sustainability," she says. "Our hotel staff goes through 800 gloves a week." So, on Friday, January 12, just before the deep freeze hit, SOS staff including Denise, Director of Operations Demetrius Wingate and local manager Brian Jointer, returned with two towering pallets containing 3,500 pounds of desperately needed first aid and personal hygiene items, an additional hospital bed and a ramp. "The exam room our volunteer doctor uses had no ramp," says Susan. "Now it does. This shipment changed how we can offer services."

The delivery arrived early in the morning as residents were just coming down to the lobby for coffee. One couple stopped to survey the deliveries with their dog, Harley, and were shocked to see both the volume of donated items and the people who got up early to deliver them. "This is what we do," says Sears. "We see a need among vulnerable members of our community and we meet it."

A gift of $15 can help provide routine medical care and first aid as well as basic self-care items including shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, toothbrushes and lotion for those without homes.

SOS EDUCATES

A NEW GENERATION OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

Our SOS Education Program is continuing to inspire our city's youth in a variety of meaningful ways-- both by providing Global Citizenship programming to students who volunteer in our warehouse and by supporting hands-on medical career pathway classes across JCPS and the state. In the case of Valley High students, who recently visited and volunteered, we are doing both. “SOS supplies Valley High School with the medical supplies they need to offer a whole spectrum of Allied Health Classes including medical assisting, pre-nursing, biomed and veterinary assisting," says Education Manager Chanda Fowler. "But this was the first time their students got to come to our headquarters for more hands-on learning and our Global Citizen training. We are thrilled that we can provide so many different opportunities for learning."

Bring a group of young people (13 or up) to volunteer and learn more about the many communities around the world who need our help.

A BIG THANK YOU TO UPS!

The UPS volunteer group that arrived at SOS headquarters this week brought a little extra help with them. Laura Lane, their EVP and Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer based in Atlanta, made her first visit to 1500 Arlington to learn more about our mission, view the Community Resource Room renovated with UPS funding and make an official presentation of a $25,000 check for The West End Healthcare Equity Initiative.

In true UPS spirit, Laura jumped right in and sorted supplies with the teams of seasoned and first-time volunteers. The generous gift from UPS will enable SOS to amplify its efforts in our city's West End, forming new community partnerships and helping more individuals in need.

Would your coworkers like to become part of something bigger and enjoy a positive team-building experience by joining us for a group volunteer session?

COME TO THE 6TH ANNUAL HEALTH & HOPE BREAKFAST!

WHEN: Wednesday, March 20, 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM

WHERE: The Olmsted

Mark your calendars and please plan to join us at the sixth annual gathering of SOS supporters. Our breakfast is the only fundraiser SOS holds annually and the largest revenue generator for our mission. It is also a wonderful opportunity for us to share the most incredible impact stories of the past year.

Tickets are free in order to enable guests to make contributions that go directly to our work of helping those in desperate need.

BEFORE YOU GO....

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