Kosovo Blanket/Medical Supply Program Success
Dear Folks:
I want to share with you about the Kosovo Blanket/Crutches project via Rotary Clubs. In the Spring, I became aware of potentials donations from Biddeford Blankets of 12,000 blankets, from Alan Josephsen Company of 2,000 pairs of crutches, and from One World Medical of wheelchairs and walkers. In July, most of these items where packaged and shipped to Kosovo in two 40 foot containers while the blankets and crutches that did not fit in the containers were given to One World Medical. The shipments arrived in Kosovo in late August and most of the items have been distributed to the needy primarily by the Rotary clubs; however, many other agencies and people are helping. The timing is excellent since the distribution is before the winter. The remaining items should be completely distributed in the near future.
During my recent trip to Kosovo, I witnessed some of the benefits of this project. In one town, our gift of a wheelchair is the only working wheelchair in its 100 bed hospital. In another municipality, the mayor is reaching out by giving blankets to ethnic minorities. In another place, blankets have been used as payment to gypsies for clean up a huge trash heap after coordinating with the local government to supply a truck to transport the trash to an appropriate dump. Attached are photos of this cleanup - before, during, and after.
Special thanks to:
Bill Knauz for letting me know about Alan Josephsen having the crutches
Alan Josephsen offering the crutches and contacting Tom Rearer at Biddeford Blankets
Tom Rearer for not only donating the blankets, but also having his men pack the containers
Don Crost and Pat O'Day of One World Medical for the wheel chairs and walkers
Harriet and John Askew for directing me for contacts in Kosovo
One World Medical for accepting the excess items that did not fit in the containers
Alan Josephsen for paying for transporting the excess items to One World Medical
Jack, Shawn, and men from Hope House in
Jim Smelser for handling the container shipments to Kosovo
Beqir Dema for handling the customs documents for
John Chestnut of Team Expansion for unpacking, storing, and coordinating the distribution the goods
Neshad Asllani (Asst District Rotary Governor) for overseeing the distribution in Kosovo
Kosovar Rotarians for their work in distributing the items
The Rotary Club of Winnetka/Northfield that played a major role as the conduit for the project
Rodger Morris and other Rotarians who helped and mentored the project
Dave Gotaas
Dear David,
Thank you for your email and photos. I want to thank you who has initiated and supported the project. It is a joint and successful service project that has enabled Kosova Rotarians to work together and serve our community in need. The project is ongoing, hundreds of blankets are ready for distribution in Decan.
On behalf of Kosova Rotarians please accept our sincere appreciation for the good work and continued support you, your friends and fellow Rotarians are giving to our newborn country and in particular to Rotary in Kosova.
Yours in Rotary,
Neshad R. Asllani, MD
Rotary Asisstant District Governor, D-2481
Good report, great project, Dave, and on behalf of Rotarians in Kosovo I want to thank all in the
Linn Slattengren