Just to our north, near I-25 and Dry Creek Road, sits the international headquarters for Project C.U.R.E. (Commission on Urgent Relief and Equipment). Its warehouse is full of donated medical supplies and equipment which are sorted, prepared into cargo containers and shipped to more than 135 countries around the world.

The nonprofit’s headquarters has remained in Colorado since its roots began in a garage in Evergreen in 1987. “We operate differently from most international aid models in that we wait until we’re invited into a country rather than look for places to work,” shared Douglas Jackson, CEO of Project C.U.R.E. Efforts often involve diaspora communities here in the states which are seeking to help areas back in their home countries.

Specific needs overseas are discovered through in-depth needs assessment studies. “Someone from our team of staff and volunteers travels to the recipient hospital and conducts an on-site inspection to ensure our donations are appropriate and can be used,” offered Douglas.

Supplies, volunteers and funding facilitate this cause. Supply needs include everything from syringes, IV-starting kits and crutches to hospital beds and x-ray machines – all received through in-kind donations from hospitals, manufacturers and individuals.

Thirty-five paid employees and more than 30,000 national volunteers, who lend hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours each year, make the difference. [HCA Healthcare and HCA HealthONE employees contribute to Project C.U.R.E. (see related article on page 13).

Funds come from the community through a variety of donation opportunities and events. Two upcoming events are close to home: the Health & Hope Gala is August 9 at the Denver Art Museum and the Project C.U.R.E Golf Classic at Sanctuary Golf Course in Sedalia is on August 10.

“People across Douglas County support us in meaningful and diverse ways, reflecting a community-wide commitment to improving global health,” shared a grateful Douglas.

The organization touches approximately 30,000 people every time they deliver a cargo container. “We know that because we collected data on the number of people served annually at the hospitals,” offered Douglas. This year, 250 semi-truck-sized cargo containers will be delivered resulting in an impact of more than 7.5 million lives.

Project C.U.R.E. loves volunteers. Kits for Kids is a simple philanthropic opportunity for the young and old. School groups, friend groups, church groups, families and others fill supply bags with basic hygiene products. The kits are then shipped where needed. Teams looking for a more active volunteer assignment can support warehouse sorting.

Medical professionals are needed for quality assurance in the sorting process and are essential for C.U.R.E. clinics and colleges.

Besides its headquarters here, there are locations in six other cities: Chicago, Houston, Kansas City, Nashville, Philadelphia and Phoenix.

“Half the world’s population lives on less than $5 a day and can’t afford healthcare. Right now is a perfect time to engage in doing something positive to help those people,” concluded Douglas.

For more information, visit projectcure.org.

 

By Elean Gersack; photos courtesy of Project C.U.R.E.