May 2008

Dear Friends of FREE,

FREE is currently serving many areas in Virginia and volunteers make this possible. Roanoke, Martinsville, New River Valley, Winchester, Lynchburg, and Northern Virginia have chapters of FREE. We are excited to see these groups grow and better serve Virginia.

In 2007, FREE served 469 people with 628 items. During the first quarter of 2008 FREE has served 92 people with 120 items. The value of gifted equipment in 2007 was $176,743. This service to the community has provided significant personal & family impacts including:

99% Greater Independence
84% Decrease in Falls
85% Decrease in ER Visits
82% Decreas in Hopital stays
98% Remain safely at home without premature Nursing Home addmissions.
$2,200,000 in cost savings to the communities we serve.

KIMOYO www.kimoyo.org

Kimoyo" means "the language of the heart" in Swahili. Their mission is to reach out to communities, both here in the Roanoke Valley and in Africa.

 FREE receives excess equipment that is not up to date by American Standards, which makes it possible for us to donate to areas of the world where it will be used.

Kimoyo is currently setting up a medical clinic in Na'aba Akparibilla Zebilla, Ghana. FREE was able to donate some of our excess equipment such as manual hospital beds, bedside commodes, and walkers. This center will reach 22 communites and be assessible to 26,000 or more people.

OMNI www.ominmissions.com

Orphan Medical International is a 501c3 non profit, Roanoke based organization that was founded in 2000 by Dr. Stephen and Karen ReMine, President of OMNI. OMNI provides direct free medical care, education and housing to orphaned and vulnerable children in our world and are currently focusing their efforts in the country of Zambia, Africa. OMNI is in the process of building "OMNI Children's Village" near Ndola. This village will include homes, a school and eventually a medical clinic.

FREE has been able to donate children's wheelchairs, crutches and walkers to assist them with the medical clinic. Karen just returned from Zambia where she delivered a pair of cuffed crutches to a little boy named Melvin. Thanks to the donations in our community FREE is able to give to others that are in need in other countries.

Grants

FREE has been awarded $2,500 from Walmart in Salem, Lynchburg, Roanoke as well as $1,000 from Advance Auto. FREE is grateful for the opportunity to partner with the community it serves in order to make a difference in the lives of so many individuals facing physical challenges. 

Lynchburg Genworth Grant:

On Thursday, February 21, 2008, FREE of Lynchburg was awarded a $7,500 grant from the Genworth Foundation. The funds will be used for brochures, parts to repair recycled devices and an inventory tracking system. Troy McHenry of Genworth Financial presented the check at the February Board of Directors meeting. Mr. McHenry has been instrumental in developing an ongoing partnership between FREE of Lynchburg and Genworth. Genworth employee volunteers have donated equipment to be recycled, as well, as their services to help with rehab. equipment to enhance our receipients independence and improve quality of life. Many thanks to Genworth Financial.