Volunteers extend a helping hand to the world
By Chris Michlewicz; photos courtesy of Project C.U.R.E.
A delegation from Project C.U.R.E. is greeted by a young girl during a trip to the Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d’Ivoire, in 2019.
A nonprofit focused on getting used medical equipment and surplus supplies to healthcare facilities that need it most has the help of two Castle Pines women.
Tammy Dawson and Amy F., both of whom work in the healthcare industry, have a combined 11 years of volunteering experience for Project C.U.R.E., a Centennial-based nonprofit with seven distribution centers worldwide and an army of 25,000 volunteers making the whole operation work.
Tammy, a 21-year resident of Castle Pines, was introduced to the organization through her church, South Suburban Christian Church. She serves as a team leader, showing new volunteers the ropes and telling them about Project C.U.R.E. Volunteers typically pack or sort medical items.
Visiting about twice a month, Tammy estimates she has spent roughly 300 hours volunteering over the last five years. She has no plans to stop anytime soon.
“I love volunteering for Project C.U.R.E. because they offer help to the world by giving these underdeveloped countries the supplies and equipment they don’t have and need,” Tammy said. “It’s inspiring to be able to give to another country what we have in surplus.”
The warehouse at Project C.U.R.E.’s international headquarters in Centennial contains medical supplies and used equipment that is shipped to healthcare centers in need in 130 countries. Volunteers help sort and pack the materials.
Amy, a longtime registered nurse, has volunteered for the nonprofit organization for six years and goes on weekends to help out. Her job offers professional advancement opportunities for those who volunteer for medical-related nonprofits, and having already been aware of Project C.U.R.E. and its mission, she dived in. “It’s exciting to be a part of what we do,” she said.
Project C.U.R.E. regularly sends out updates, providing information about successful healthcare clinics and telling volunteers about where the equipment and supplies have gone. They share feedback and photos from the grateful recipients in countries like Vietnam, Romania, Chile, India and Ghana.
“You leave with a little better perspective and the knowledge that you helped some people,” Tammy said.
New volunteers don’t need any prior knowledge of medical supplies or equipment to help, Amy said. The experiences she has had have been truly rewarding and she has made friends volunteering for Project C.U.R.E. “I could definitely see myself doing it for years to come,” she said. “I would encourage people to try it. It’s good to give back to something, whether it’s in your community or not.”
For more information or to volunteer, visit www.projectcure.org.
