Each year hospitals in the U.S. discard literally tons of unused surgical supplies, in addition to replacing millions of dollars of medical equipment. With many in developing nations literally dying for lack of this same equipment and materials, FEDES undertakes bridging supply and demand in a not-for-profit venture.

Medical supplies, including many that we take for granted but are luxuries elsewhere - such as dialysis machines, and wheelchairs - are channeled to facilities offering care for Chile's poor, as well as distributed personally to the poor on an individual basis. You can imagine the reaction when handicapped people like those shown below are given a free wheelchair, after never having had one their entire lives! Click for sample reactions.

Agueda Martin connects with an elderly wheelchair recipient.

Four hundred wheelchairs lined up to give away to those in need.

To date, FEDES has distributed 25,000 free wheelchairs throughout the country, plus walkers, canes and crutches.

The FEDES network has the capacity to import and distribute a dozen forty-foot shipping containers of wheelchairs, hospital equipment and medical supplies annually. The only barrier is the funds needed to cover the additional operational and transport costs.

Steven Colon with the president of a U.S. ambulance service who donates ambulances.	Another ambulance being unloaded, is being donated to a needy hospital in southern Chile.

FCF project manager Steven Colon with Director of Regional Ministry of Health.

Steven Colon gives an interview to the local news agency after the donation ceremony.