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The Friends of Ostomates Worldwide-USA is a volunteer-run, non-profit
organization providing ostomy supplies and educational materials to ostomates in need
around the world.
The Haitian people are dealing with the worst catastrophe in their lifetime.
They need water, food, security and medical care. FOW-USA was able to respond
quickly to a request for ostomy supplies. Thanks to the volunteers in Louisville,
Yusen shippers and the Catholic Medical Mission Board, who have an organization in Haiti
to ensure the supplies to get where they are needed, three pallets of ostomy supplies
are on the way to Haiti.
Through Project SHARE (Sending Help and Rehabilitation Everywhere) FOW-USA collects new,
surplus ostomy supplies from generous individuals and organizations in the United States
and ships them to developing countries where ostomates do not have access to these vital
supplies. The donated products are sent to the FOW-USA warehouse space in the Louisville,
KY, area at the donor’s own expense. A team of volunteers gathers regularly at the warehouse
to unpack the supplies, organize them, match the donations with needs, and repack them for shipment
overseas. A volunteer communicates with organizations in the receiving country, such as hospitals,
clinics, and ostomy associations, to identify product needs and ensure that the supplies will be distributed
free of charge to needy ostomates. See Request for Help.
From its founding in 1986 through January 2007, FOW-USA has shipped over 220,000 pounds of ostomy
supplies to 60 countries worldwide.
The value of these supplies is estimated at over $11,000,000.
See Shipping History for details.
FOW-USA also funds memberships in the World Council for Enterostomal Therapists for people who care for ostomates in developing countries, and has purchased video cameras for clinics in Zimbabwe and Pakistan to help experienced professionals teach both health workers and ostomates about ostomy care.
FOW-USA relies on supply donations and financial contributions to continue its important work. Information on how you can contribute can be found on the Donations page of the web site.
You may order free copies of the FOW-USA newsletter or brochure or view them on this web site by clicking on these links. FOW-USA also has a description of the work of the organization, available as a Power Point presentation. Click on FOW-USA Story for the presentation. Additionally, the ostomy care guidebooks originally published by the United Ostomy Association (now UOAA) are available in English and in Spanish by clicking on ostomy care guidebooks.
Please contact us at info@fowusa.org
© Copyright 2006 FOW-USA
Federal Tax ID 34-1705116
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