Partners For World Health

Partners for World Health is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that was founded in 2009 by a nurse who could no longer be witness to tons of medical supplies being thrown into our landfills when so many of the world's countries remain desperate for such supplies and unable to provide good medical care to their sick without them. Besides collecting these unused medical supplies from a growing number of hospitals, sorting and packing them to send to established reliable connections in countries that are in dire need for them, Partners for World Health also participates in medical missions to these and other countries a number of times yearly, providing good medical care to the sick and helping to teach local medical providers how better to care for their sick with these much needed medical supplies being provided to them. In 2018 alone, 150 tons (or 250,000 lbs.) of medical supplies were sent to countries in need. The goal for 2019 (which to date, is on track to be reached) is to send one container of supplies every month to different countries. The medical supplies collected and being sent are from just a small number of hospitals in the New England area. Just imagine how much help could be provided to countries in need if all hospitals in this country were to participate in such a program! And this all because of one nurse's vision of a more equitable world of good health care and her determination to make her vision a reality. It is truly an honor to be a volunteer for Partners for World Health, knowing that you are supporting such a life-supporting, world-changing and environmentally healing organization. Lois Leonard Stock, Falmouth, Maine

This company is innovative and does extraordinary work. Not only do they commit to providing high quality medical supplies and health care to those in need, but they use fresh, brand new supplies that are beyond their shelf-life, tapping into an alternative recourse to provide aid while simultaneously reducing medical waste. As an aspiring social worker, the innovativeness of this company is inspiring. As a past volunteer, the community within this organization is so strong that the tedious work of sorting through a mass amount of unused medical supplies is actually really fun and rewarding.

Since 2013 when I first learned about PWH, I have given 100% of my charitable funds to them. They make great use of the excess products that our medical system provides to help those around the world who most need them. I have since met many of the staff and volunteers and have been amazed how ordinary people can do such extraordinary things. In addition, they also do medical missions in the same places that receive the containers of supplies. The fact that these supplies would otherwise end up in our landfills is an added and significant bonus. PWH definitely gives me the biggest bang for my charitable bucks!

When my wife was suffering the long term effects of whole brain radiation, I went to the Partners for World Health Alliance looking for a bed rail, a shower chair, and some incidentals. This gave me a wonderful opportunity to discover the vital role that PWH plays in helping medical professionals and clinics around the world by shipping them used medical equipment. Their warehouse was absolutely amazing!!! I couldn't believe how large it was and how many medical supplies and hardware it held. I was so moved and impressed that after my wife died I took half of her insurance money and gave it to PWH to ship a container to India. I cannot recommend this organization more highly. They were a lifesaver for me and continue to be a lifesaver for the world's third-world countries. I was so fortunate and pleased to be able to help them out. I hope your organization can help them also.

Every day that I work with PWH, there is something new and exciting to experience. This is truly a unique organization. Why? There are so many reasons: It's founder realized that she could rescue perfectly good medical supplies and equipment from wasteful disposal in our landfills and re-purpose them for shipment to facilities in need. But this organization also follows up with missions to countries that receive our supplies - to provide education and to administer care with teams of medical personnel (and sometimes students, interns and lay people). PWH also contributes to the local community by enabling caregivers and residents to meet their medical needs. PWH is a wonderful place to learn from others with special medical knowledge and expertise as well as to work with other terrific volunteers.

Partners for World Health is a world champion charity. The fact that millions of new, unused, unopened medical supplies are thrown away every day in the U.S. is mind-boggling. It would be wonderful if every hospital implements what founder Elizabeth McClellan has set up in Southern Maine to put these supplies to good use in other parts of the world instead of putting them in landfills. Thank you to all the volunteers of this amazing organization!!!

I became familiar with Partners for World Health when my husband died and I was able to donated his wheelchairs and medical equipment to this organization. Since then I have made use of Partners for a large number of items for people in need because I manage a large, Local Food Pantry. The items are things that would other-wise be trashed but the quality and range of available medical items is amazing. The staff is always very helpful and so happy to help.They are flexible and will assist when I needed to make selections. Their work is crucial to our local area but also to many countries all over the world.

I love being a volunteer for Partners For Would Health because this organization makes a significant difference in the environment and in people's lives. I was astounded by the huge volume of much-needed medical supplies and equipment that would otherwise end up in land fill. On my first day of volunteering I held a small oxygen mask in my hand and it suddenly struck me: this will save a child's life! The tiny staff of amazing people works so thoughtfully with volunteers. I also love that I can drop in any time they are open and there is always something meaningful to do.I can't praise this organization enough.

Without any previous knowledge of PWH, we had an opportunity to volunteer at the Portland facility, and we learned so much about the good work being done by Elizabeth McLellan and her committed teams of volunteers. We instantly became committed supporters. With the simple idea of collecting and deploying desperately needed medical supplies around the globe, PWH has been able to make significant differences in the lives of so many people. To be even a small part of this meaningful effort has changed how we think about all that we take for granted and waste each year. It has raised our awareness of how some of the basic medical and emotional needs of others can be helped and improved by thinking more like PWH. We applaud all the daily, genuine, unselfish acts taken by PWH to make the lives of others better, healthier and safer.