“We can better the lives of others and even save lives in countries that have lacked the proper medical facilities and supplies. What a reward, knowing that we can make such a difference,” stated Kathy Curry, sergeant of arms of the Brandon South Rotary Club which, along with the Brandon Rotary, recently packed a 60-foot Wal-Mart semi-trailer truck with medical supplies gathered from local rotary clubs in support of Project C.U.R.E. (Commission on Urgent Relief and Equipment).
Project C.U.R.E., an organization helping medically depleted countries, is said by local chairman Alan Feldman of Feldman’s Photography to be sending over a million dollars worth of donated medical supplies weekly to 105 countries throughout the world. Former president of Brandon Rotary, Feldman went on to say, “Seven thousand tons of medical supplies are thrown away everyday in the Unites States. It’s pretty sad, us throwing away things everyday that others could really use.”
Feldman felt led to support this organization, informing fellow Rotarians of the lack of necessary tools and equipment that we as Americans have access to during surgeries, but those overseas may not – things like scalpels, gauze, numbing agents, crutches or even a bed to recover in post surgery. From there, various rotary clubs of District 6890 teamed up to collect needed medical items from generous facilities such as Brandon Regional Hospital, Bill’s Prescription Center, Brandon Outreach, Emergency Care Help Organization and many more in order to support the cause.
Together, the rotary clubs were able to accumulate enough medical supplies to accommodate the 60-foot trailer of a semi-truck, which was donated for use by Wal-Mart upon its return back north, stopping in at Nashville, Tennessee to drop-off the supplies. In response, the rotaries received a thank you letter for their support from Project C.U.R.E. Its mission to be one of support to charities and the community, Rotary International has a total of 1.2 million members. Brandon Rotary, meets every Tuesday at 12 Noon at Center Place located at 619 Vonderburg Dr. in Brandon and Brandon South Rotary meets on Wednesdays at 12 Noon at Buckhorn Springs Golf & Country Club located at 2721 S. Miller Rd. in Valrico.
If you are interested in joining the clubs in their efforts to help Project C.U.R.E., which is now sending supplies to Haiti, please call Feldman at 685-4343. To learn more about either rotary club, please visit either Website at www.brandonrotary.org or www.brandonsouthrotary.org.Or visit www.projectcure.org.
