On Monday, June 30, 2014 at 8:30 am Dr. Karen and Dr. Tom Asher will be at BBF’s Northside warehouse to pick up donations of protective gear – gloves, face masks and hospital gowns – for shipment to the Christian Health Association of Sierra Leone (CHASL), in response to requests for assistance related to the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. Both physicians have served as medical missionaries in Sierra Leone with CHASL and West Africa Education Medical Mission since 2008. They have served in 12 hospitals and multiple clinics throughout Sierra Leone.
A 40-foot container shipment will be sent from BBF Pittsburgh in July with additional gowns, gloves, masks, soap and other requested supplies. A third shipment leaves BBF Virginia in late July/early August for Connaught Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Over the past three and one half years BBF has provided over 73 containers of supplies and simple medical equipment for use among 200 hospitals and clinics in Africa, including 30 medical facilities in Sierra Leone and Liberia, two countries experiencing the deadly outbreak.
BBF, a 56-year old Pittsburgh-based international charity, has provided over $4 billion of medical supplies, textbooks, food, seeds, and other humanitarian supplies to people around the world in over 140 countries. With the help of gifts from the general public, corporations and foundations, in 2013 BBF sent product contributions to those in need in 64 countries including Burundi, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Liberia, Nicaragua, Philippines, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka and Zambia. These shipments were the equivalent of 252 tractor trailer loads. Also in 2013, BBF provided supplies for 321 medical and humanitarian hand-carry mission trips.
Forbes Magazine highlighted BBF as one of only three charities with a 100% rating for both fundraising efficiency and charitable commitment, November 2013. The Better Business Bureau continues to give BBF its “Wise Giving Alliance Standards” seal of approval.
Donations to assist with shipping costs are greatly appreciated. Credit card donations can be made by calling Brother's Brother Foundation at 412-321-3160. Checks should be made out to Brother's Brother Foundation and sent to:
Brother's Brother Foundation 1200 Galveston Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15233
For additional information, please contact:
Karen Dempsey, Vice President Development/Administration kdempsey@brothersbrother.org
Luke Hingson, President lhingson@brothersbrother.org