Re: Donating used prostheses

Re: Donating used prostheses

Thanks to all for your responses. As stated by the senders some of it may not
be up to date but there are clearly a lot of worthy options for donating used
equipment. Following are copies of the responses I recieved.

recieved. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Colleagues,
I am in contact with an orthopedic surgeon and a budding prosthetist in
Tonga who could use not only used components but are in need of an oven
for thermoforming as well. This is the first supported attempt by anyone
in Tonga to provide prostheses to the large diabetic amputee population.
If you can help please contact me at <Email Address Redacted>

Lane Ferrin CP

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Several years back I posted this to my listserv, AMP-L. I am not sure
how valid all of it is since time has passed but it might help.

Wayne Renardson

Another option for donation of prosthetic component, new and used :

The Barr Foundation(non profit 501 c-3 amputee organization)
c/o Progressive Orthopedics
4224 Ohio Street
San Diego.Ca 92104
619-280-9174

Present amputee assistance missions include: Belize, Central America:
Sierra Leone, West Africa: Bosnia: the Phillipines: Mexico: Kosovo etc.

See our web site at www.oandp.com/barr and click on Barr Foundation's
Mission Goes International
Anthony T. Barr
President
The Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
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> One day Renee Somers asked:
>
> RS> If Jim gets his new socket, what happens to the old one? Can it be
> donated like the whole leg can be donated? Or is it just to special
> a fit to bother? - Renee
---------------------
Contact David Sevier or Curtis Allen,
Coordinators of:

Operation Sea Legs
Mercy Ships,
P.O. Box 2020
Lindale, TX 75771-2020
800-424-SHIP.
Email < <Email Address Redacted> >

We send our used etc. items to the world health organization- (see next
entry for address) The liability problems don't exist there in the third
world-however, here, we are prohibited by federal law from reusing
components.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Two other options for used components:

The World Rehabilitation Fund
The Educational Opportunity Center of the Bronx
1666 Bathgate Ave.
Bronx, NY 110457

(they recycle used/usable components of prostheses & orthoses and
wheelchairs)

American Leprosy Missions
1 ALM Way
Greenville, SC 29601

(exo or endo used prosthetic components, such as knees and feet)

Between our lab (which is a non-profit research facility) and the
outreach foundation with which we are affiliated, we may have some good
possibilities for worthy donation sites. Our lab (Prosthetics Research
Study) does work primarily within the US, but we very often make good
use of donated components both within our studies and to meet the needs
of our subjects between projects. The outreach foundation (Prosthetics
Outreach Foundation) does work in developing countries such as Vietnam,
the Philippines, and some Central American nations. I've asked one of
our research prosthetists who shares time between both groups to look
into this further.

Thanks for making the effort to find homes other than the trash for
useful components and materials. It can make a big difference.

Kim Coleman
Research Engineer
Prosthetics Research Study
720 Broadway
Seattle, WA 98122
Phone: (206) 328-3116
FAX: (206) 325-3607
e-mail: <Email Address Redacted>

Web Page: <URL Redacted>
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Many of you have often wondered what to do with old, used components. It
seems like such a waste to throw them away! I worked for three years in
a hospital in Tanzania, East Africa that serves an area with a
population of over six million very poor people. I know that your
donations will be well used and appreciated there. The staff in the
orthopedic workshop at Bugando Hospital have the skills to help people
with disabilities but very little material to work with. It's easy and
inexpensive to get your old components there to be used! An organization
called Americares in Connecticut will accept your donations and ship
them to Tanzania.

Here's a short list of useful items:

Prosthetics
-----------
Feet and Knees-----Endoskeletal stuff are not able to be used---Just
send old exoskeletal prostheses as they are. Don't even bother to cut
off sockets because even the old attached straps are valuable

Orthotics
---------
Conventional AFOs and KAFOs ----Just send them as they are with shoes
attached

Plastic KAFOs-----Just send them as they are
-------------

Materials and Supplies
----------------------

Laminating resin, sheet plastic, and stockinette---almost impossible to
get in Africa---if you have anything you don't think you'll use please
send---just make sure resin is tightly sealed

Stump Socks----Impossible to get in Africa

Here's the shipping address and packing instructions:

Attn. Peter Brown
Americares Warehouse
145 Main Street
Norwalk, CT 06851
Phone (206) 972-5551

* Pack in sturdy boxes marked: For Bugando Hospital, Mwanza,
  Tanzania---Orthopedic Workshop, C/O Dr. Ray Towey

* If tax receipts are needed, call or fax Peter Brown at Americare with
  a list of the donations and tell him where to send the
  receipts.---tel. 203-847-8847 fax. 203-847-8017

Your donation will be well used and greatly appreciated. Please contact
me if you have any questions. Thanks.

Bill Velicky, CP
--------------------------------------------------------------------
<Email Address Redacted>

Maurice LeBlanc

You are not the first one asking this question and you will not be the
last one. I will send you two lists of addresses for your information.
Probably it will be good to keep them with NWU for the future, because
such questions will come up again. But I would ask you to make sure to
keep this letter with the list and make sure that they get never
separated.

                  [ huge clip]



Best regards

Wieland Kaphingst

ortho-bio-med - marketing education design

Dipl.-Ing Wieland Kaphingst CPO (D)

1) Brother to Brother 800 642-1616

2) American Leprosy organization 800 537-7670

3) Neighbors helping neighbors 360 457-7148

   National O&P Office
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wayne Renardson

----------------------------------------------------------------------

American Leprosy Missions
1 ALM Way
Greenville, SC 29601
800-537-7679

They have a skilled prosthetist in northern Brazil at a Leprosy mission. He
does not compete with any other prosthetists as there are no others in the
area.

The World Rehabilitation Fund
Educational Opportunity Center of the Bronx
1666 Bathgate Avenue
Bronx, NY 10457
--------------------------------------------------

Prostheses and components can be donated to:

Limbs for Life Foundation
120 North Robinson, Suite 1913
Oklahoma City, OK,. 73102
phone 405 235 5462
toll free 888 235 5462
fax 405 290 0121

Contact Craig Gavras, Executive Director, for more information and details of
the projects they have and will undertake with the components that have been
donated to date.

Daniel Watkins MS CPO
Prosthetic and Orthotic Technician Program
Francis Tuttle Health Sciences Center
12777 N. Rockwell Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73142-2789
405 717 4199
Fax: 405 717 4789
<Email Address Redacted>
<URL Redacted>