College joins in cross-country partnership to get UI medical supplies to earthquake victims
As people around the world opened checkbooks and texted on cell phones to donate to the millions of Haitian earthquake victims, some Iowa citizens found a more hands-on way to help.
A college trailer, some union drivers and speedy responses came together this week to send much-needed medical supplies to the beleaguered island nation. The ad hoc team united around the immense needs of the nation of Haiti following the devastating earthquakes of mid-January. A multi-level project quickly grew from the recognition of these needs, with Iowa Teamsters, the Governor’s office, doctors at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and many others.
The caring network also included Cedar Rapids business leader and Kirkwood Community College Trustee Marcia Rogers. She learned about a key unmet need to transport donated medical supplies to southern Florida for shipment to Port au Prince.
“Dr. Chris Buresh at the University assembled some vital medical supplies in the first days of February, but getting them to the shipping point was a big question. Kirkwood was able to donate a trailer, with a Hy-Vee tractor rig to pull it with Teamsters driving. Saturday night the doors closed on the fully loaded truck with 32 pallets of vital medical supplies. Sunday morning that truck pulled out. Seeing that Kirkwood logo on the side, knowing what was inside….it was a moment of great pride for us!” Marcia said.
Communications staff from the Iowa governor’s office helped coordinate the assembly and shipment. Within 30 hours the fully loaded truck pulled into a Fort Lauderdale warehouse, with aid workers ready to unload and prepare the supplies for the final leg of travel to Haiti.
Rogers observed that “our Kirkwood truck crossed into Florida early Monday and will be in fort Lauderdale this afternoon. The final destination is Miami, and it will be very much ahead of schedule…..Without Kirkwood’s rapid response, the supplies might have been all set to go with no way of getting there.”