LOUISVILLE, Ky. — At its annual Health & Hope breakfast Thursday, Louisville-based Supplies Over Seas unveiled a new look and name change for the first time in the organization’s 25 year history. Now known as simply SOS, the new name and logo was created to better reflect the organization’s expanding local, regional and global impact.
The growth of SOS regionally is driven by its commitment to improve health both locally and globally. By partnering with more hospitals throughout the region, SOS is expanding its environmental impact by diverting more medical supplies away from landfills and appropriately redistributing them to organizations in need. With the goal of creating sustainable change, SOS has moved towards a more comprehensive response to global health needs. The organization is currently piloting a Maternal and Child Health program to assess ways to deepen the impact on two of the most vulnerable populations served.
Most recently, SOS sent a shipment of 11 tons ($118,000 value) of medical supplies and equipment to Kambia, Sierra Leone where it will be used to provide prenatal care for pregnant women, midwife services for safer deliveries, and follow-up antenatal care with a well-baby program. This project is part of the SOS Maternal and Child Health pilot program.
SOS was founded in 1993 by Dr. Norton Waterman and members of the Greater Louisville Medical Society (GLMS) as a response to the waste created by Louisville’s medical system. Since its founding, SOS has sent medical supplies that have provided medical care to over 10,000 million people in 105 countries. This year alone, 91 international humanitarian shipments were deployed, and 56,315 pounds of supplies were donated to local organizations including the Humane Society, Family Health Centers, and JCPS’s Science program. In September, SOS reached two significant milestones – the 3 millionth pound of medical supplies was sorted and packed, and the 150,000th volunteer hour was logged.
For more information visit http://www.suppliesoverseas.org.
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