Cross International

Moving Meds, Saving Lives

People die every day in developing countries from fevers, infections and vitamin deficiencies left untreated because basic medicines or nutritional supplements are not available. The few local clinics that exist frequently run out of basic items such as gauze, bandages and rubbing alcohol to cleanse and dress simple cuts. Illnesses and wounds, otherwise easily managed with proper resources, escalate into life-threatening tragedies.

>Generous corporations often donate medicines, medical supplies, nutritional supplements and other goods to Cross International Catholic Outreach. Caring donors pay for shipping costs, so we can make sure these urgently-needed supplies reach the poor men, women and children who need them. Sending donated goods overseas results in an incredible "bang for the buck." For every $1,000 monetary gift received last year, we were able to ship $85,000 in desperately needed items!

Sending shipments to our ministry partners in developing countries allow them to:

• Provide antibiotics to treat infections that would otherwise result in deafness, amputations or death because of lack of treatment.
• Provide vitamins such as vitamin A to prevent childhood blindness and prevent death from measles, mumps and other viral infections. Each year childhood blindness from vitamin A deficiency affects 6 million people and kills 750,000 worldwide.
• Provide nutritional supplements such as iron tablets to prevent anemia and the mental and physical delays that would otherwise plague children throughout their lives. Nutritional anemia affects 350 million people each year.
• Re-stock clinic shelves with basic medical supplies such as aspirin, antibiotics, gauze, bandages and rubbing alcohol, so local health care providers can treat illnesses and injuries before they become life-threatening.
• Provide vaccinations for children so they do not contract debilitating illnesses such as polio or tuberculosis, or pass these illnesses on to others.
• Provide iodine to prevent miscarriages, as well as endemic goiters, which affect 150 million people a year.

Cross often receives free goods as gifts from generous corporate donors. But without cash donations to ship these goods they go to waste, or must be turned down. Please consider sponsoring the shipment of urgently needed medical goods with a gift to Cross International Catholic Outreach.