Urgent gifts needed for Ghana and tsunami victims

Debbie Cramer and her husband Jerry from Mound Valley, Kan., have partnered in a mission effort for "Gathering Gifts for Ghana, West Africa" and F.A.M.E. (Fellowship Association Medical Evangelism). They have been collecting items such as clothing, hand tools, and medical equipment supplies for these needy people.

These gifts have been provided from people in the four state-areas. A shipment is scheduled to go out on a truck Jan. 15 but it is only half full. They need help to fill the truck.

People who donate gifts to Ghana will be separated out and these items will be ensured to be sent there. Ghana needs most of the clothing, farming equipment, tools, grain and sewing items.

"Hoes, rakes, shovels and basic essentials they don't have will help them to build; they also need items to learn to quilt and sew," said Cramer. "The biggest thing is agricultural. They need some medical supplies, too."

The remainder of the items will go to the main headquarters of F.A.M.E. in Indianapolis, Ind., and be sorted and given to the most needed areas of the tsunami victims.

They are in need of large containers to ship items and help transporting and boxing items as they come in. So even if people don't have the resources to update their old tools, or clean out their medical cabinets, they can help.

Large items to donate may be dropped off at 201 West 2nd Street, Mound Valley, Kan., 67354. Or contact Debbie Cramer at debbiecramer@hotmail.com or at (620) 328-2573 to arrange pick up.

Medical supplies may be dropped off at Tryo Christian Church in Tyro, Kan., 301 Market, off Hwy 166, between Caney and Coffeyville, Kan.

Smaller items can be dropped off in care of Mollie Bechtelheimer at Blue Stem Cardiology in the Medical Parks Building at 3400 E. Frank Phillips, Suite 502, in Bartlesville.

Please contact Cramer if planning to help with managing supplies.

A list of specific items asked for are, but not limited to:

? Over the counter medical needs: Children's chewable vitamins, adult and infant vitamins, cold and cough medicine, anti-fungal creams, and antibiotic creams.

? Tool needs: Hoes, picks, shovels, gloves for the remote areas where they have no machinery and only way to dig the earth is by using handmade tools.

? Summer clothing and linens all sizes. Needles, thread, yarn, and darning supplies.

? Cleaning and disinfectant supplies, anti bacterial soaps and creams.

? Prescription Medical Needs: Antibiotics, respiratory, blood pressure, gastro-intestinal, anti-inflammatory, ophthalmic/otic, and anti-diabetic.

? Money to ship the items and for money to purchase items from headquarters.

? Medical equipment, such as cardiac, respiratory, crutches, and suction equipment or drains.

? Medical supplies such as sutures, dressings, exam gloves, wound care items, bandages, and hygiene supplies.

When sending medical equipment, be sure to include any accessories or manuals that go with the equipment, including patient cables and transduocers, power cords, recorder paper, spare parts and operator or service manuals.

Medical supplies should be sorted by type and placed in separate plastic bags or boxes.

Medcial equipment should be boxed with care for shipping. Please call FAME at 317-358-2480 for more information.

Monetary donations may be sent to FAME, 4545 Southeastern Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46203 or send or drop them by Blue Stem Cardiology, or to Cramer at Mound Valley.

This is a world-wide effort to help an organization who helps 30 different countries and provide treatment to over a million people per year. To learn more about F.A.M.E. please visit www.FAMEworld.org.