FTC Canada Blog

AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN OUR HISTORY

2011-03-15T09:09:00.001-04:00

We are very excited to announce this important milestone in the history of our organization, FTC Canada has changed its name to Speroway.

What does Speroway mean? Our unique name combines Spero, the Latin word for “hope”, with way, representing the path we follow. Pronounced spare-o-way, it represents a hopeful way forward, both for our organization and the people we assist.

In many ways, it represents FTC Canada coming into its own as a relief and development agency. In the five years since we began with our first food drop in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, we have become a leading contributor to meeting the needs of hungry children and their families in many countries with the help of caring Canadians. We hope that our new name and logo will bring greater visibility to our organization and strengthen our ability to communicate with our supporters so that our efforts to pass on their love and compassion for those in need can continue to grow.

Foremost in our decision to change our name was a desire to assert ourselves as an independent Canadian organization with its own projects and unique ways of serving those in need. The name “FTC Canada,” which came about through a distant affiliation with Feed the Children International, has caused some confusion over the years. As Speroway, we will continue to partner with Feed The Children and other international aid agencies on select projects, as well as pursue our own unique overseas projects.

We are also excited to unveil our dynamic new logo. A globe encompassed by a gentle wing. It represents the caring embrace of God, who makes all things possible and inspires us to bring hope to children both at home and around the world. Our new tagline “Delivering hope to needy children”, affirms our promise to serve those around the world.

Changing the name of FTC Canada also gives us “wings” to explore new ways of providing support. Food distribution will continue to be at the core of our efforts. But we’re increasingly excited by new opportunities to provide medical and dental care, education, housing and other essentials that will enable us to make a more lasting impact on hungry children and their families.

Thank you for being part of FTC Canada’s success in delivering hope! As we embark on our next phase of growth, as Speroway, we hope we can count on your continued support and encouragement.

Please visit the new website and blog by clicking HERE.

GUELPH SCHOOL HELPS PACK FOOD BOXES

2011-03-08T14:51:00.001-05:00

8 March 2011 Last updated at 16:45 ET

Guelph Community Christian School arrived at FTC Canada in a big way! Over 40 grade 1 & 2 students along with teachers and parents arrived at the Guelph Head Office to help pack food and hygiene boxes.

When I arrived in the warehouse, students in one line had just completed packing 40 hygiene boxes. The boxes filled with supplies like soap and other toiletries are given to out to needy families at special Family Food Box distributions.

The hygiene boxes go with the Family Food boxes. In the other line they were just finishing up their 40th box. Each box contains over 35 pounds of good quality food. This helps feed a family of four, for about one week.

GCCS has been here before at FTC Canada helping to pack up thousands of Crocs shoes. While the shoes went to places like Central America and Africa, the Family Food Boxes will be distributed here in Canada. These boxes may be distributed locally to families here in Guelph or may make there way to Hamilton.

Update: The students packed over 100 each of hygiene and food boxes

Click on the photos to see larger size.

FTC CANADA BLUE & WHITE GALA COMING SOON!

2011-03-04T15:57:00.000-05:00

This is a reminder that you are invited to join us in Burlington, ON on April 9th as we celebrate together at the 3rd Annual FTC Canada Blue & White Gala.

We have some very exciting news to share with you that night so we definitely want you to be there if you can.

This year's event will feature live entertainment and a silent auction. Click HERE to order your tickets now.

BLUE & WHITE GALA: NEW LOCATION

2011-02-22T11:19:00.001-05:00

Please join us in Burlington, ON on April 9th as we celebrate together at the 3rd Annual FTC Canada Blue & White Gala.

This is an opportunity for you to join with others in the life saving work of feeding children.

This year's event will feature live entertainment and a silent auction. Click HERE to order your tickets now.

HAITI: PARTNERSHIP BRINGS HOPE

2011-02-16T14:53:00.002-05:00

The new school

Nature's Sunshine Canada has partnered with FTC Canada and the people of Haiti to build a new school building at the Mission of Hope (MOH).

As noted by our partner in Haiti:

Quality education is vital in our effort to improve the economic structure of Haiti. The School of Hope has approximately 2,500 students enrolled per school year in Kindergarten through High School.

Garry Ford opens the school

Nature's Sunshine fully funded the new 2 room school building which was completed in the Fall of 2010. FTC Canada Manager, Procurement & Logistics, Gary Richard joined Garry Ford, Nature's Sunshine Products Manager and Brian Dyck in October 2010 on a site visit to see the completed project.

The goal of providing the next generation of Haitians with skills that will create self-sufficient and productive students is one that resonates with all the people involved in this essential partnership.

Garry Ford with Brian Dyck

FTC Canada would like to thank Nature's Sunshine Products Canada for their commitment to the communities in Haiti and their desire to bring about long-term change in the lives of the students at MOH.

Garry Ford, Principal Souffrant Jean Romain and Gary Richard

HOMES FOR HAITI: NEW HOPE

2011-02-11T11:22:00.000-05:00

Washrooms

In partnership with Mission of Hope Haiti, FTC Canada is looking forward to a plan that brings renewed hope to families in Haiti.

The homes that we have raised funds to build, and continue to raise funds for are going to give Haitian families a safe roof over their heads. There's an additional dose of dignity in receiving a plot of land, a fruit bearing tree and a shade tree, gardening space and a separate sanitary washroom facility.

Over time we hope to raise up a new community. Four homes were already up as of January 25, 2011.

When the earthquake struck in January 2010, it struck hard. Some people lost family, others lost limbs, so many lost their homes. The hope they hang on to now, is that the Mission of Hope and FTC Canada will help them start again.

With your support we can. Please give generously - CLICK HERE.

Homes for Haiti

FTC CANADA MEDICAL TEAM GUATEMALA 2010 PRESENTATION

2011-02-04T12:59:00.000-05:00

In November 2010, FTC Canada took a Medical Team to Guatemala. The team provided medical and dental care to over 4000 people at 5 different locations just outside the capital Guatemala City.

The team went to a village just below the base of a recently active volcano. They also went into a region that had been impacted by heavy rain and flooding. The people the team saw were in desperate need of primary medical care. Many were seeing a dentist for the first time in their lives. For most this was a chance to get medications and treatment for ailments that really need more constant attention. They were extremely grateful for this return visit.

The video/slide show below shows the team in action. We set up in schools generally, transforming classrooms into clinics. Doctors take two rooms, the dental team takes one room, pharmacy, distribution and for this trip, eyeglasses set up in their own rooms as well. You will see all of this in the presentation below.

Thank you for your support. Another team is preparing to head back into El Salvador for the third time in March (2011). We will definitely see some of the same families again which is going to be a tremendous experience for everyone. Please show your support CLICK HERE.

HIGH SCHOOLS MAKE A DIFFERENCE PT2

2011-01-28T16:18:00.001-05:00

FTC Canada is deeply concerned that a lack of proper sleep for First Nation's children is detrimental to their development and health. Changes in sleeping habits can impair a child’s learning, memory and ability to concentrate. To try and address the problem of a serious shortage of adequate beds, FTC Canada has developed the First Nations Bunk Bed Program.

Meadowvale High School and West Credit High School in Mississauga are helping to implement such a vision, by partnering with several vendors in the Mississauga, ON and with FTC Canada. Together we are building bunk beds to send to First Nations communities north of Sioux Lookout, where conditions for families are deficient.

Please consider a gift towards the building of 300 beds by 2012! CLICK HERE!

LOOKING AHEAD: MEDICAL TEAM TO EL SALVADOR MARCH 2011

2011-01-18T11:57:00.000-05:00

The March 2011 Medical Team to El Salvador is comprised of medical and dental professionals: nurses, doctors, dentists, dental assistants, hygienists, paramedics and pharmacists. A small support staff will also accompanies the team to El Salvador.

This marks the third time FTC Canada has taken a Medical Team into the city and surrounding regions of the capital of San Salvador.

Through the medical programs (since Honduras 2007) we have developed long-term relationships with health care professionals in Central America. Mentoring local medical and dental professionals has made a lasting impact.

How you can help?: Go to the Medical Team page (click here) to make a donation to the March Team to El Salvador.

Also, click here to open a promotional piece ~ please share this by email and on your social networks to share the news about what we are doing in Central America.

Thank You!

HAITI: BUILDING HOPE

2011-01-14T15:41:00.000-05:00

On January 12, 2010 a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck near Port au Prince, Haiti, with a devastating outcome. Aftershocks measuring 4.5 or greater were recorded over the next 12 days, an estimated three million people were staggered.

To this day, families are living under tents, in what were meant to be makeshift, temporary, tent-cities. These "cities" are not a place to raise a family and the tents are not suitable structures.

WE WANT TO PROVIDE HOMES FOR HAITI

FTC Canada is currently preparing to build 10 homes! Click Here to see the plans (pdf file). A front level view is shown below.

Families lost their homes. Restore their hope, restore their future and give generously to this home building program. A year after the disaster, help families by giving them a roof over their head and restoring dignity. There is no way in the world they can do this on their own; they have lost everything!

It's your turn to bring new hope to Haiti!

CLICK HERE to help build hope!

HAITI TRIBUTE: TO MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE

2011-01-13T09:12:00.001-05:00

This article was originally featured on this blog on April 16, 2010.

Ali Matthews is an accomplished Singer-Songwriter from Stratford, ON. Her love for creating and producing music has earned her respect from her peers and fans throughout North America. She is also a long time supporter and spokesperson for FTC Canada.

Her brother is Dr. Anthony Brown, FTC Canada Medical Team Advisor, who helped lead the very first FTC medical team to Honduras in 2007. In January, just days after an earthquake rocked Port-au-Prince Haiti, Dr. Brown was working diligently to secure medicines and supplies and coordinating plans with FTC to send a medical team to the country.

As Ali stood back watching all this unfold, she wondered how she might help too. In the best way she knew how, Ali headed into the studio to produce her own version of the Bob Dylan classic, "To Make You Feel My Love". When images started coming back from the team in Haiti, it was a natural next step to pair music and photos and share it with her fans. The following video can also be found on YouTube.

To learn more about Ali Matthews visit www.alimatthews.com

FIRST NATION BUNK BED PROGRAM: REPORT FROM MISH

2010-12-21T12:14:00.001-05:00

Reports from the community of Mishkeegogamang, ON (Mish) indicate that the first 50 beds are assembled and that by all accounts, “It's been a great experience.”

Karen Ward, FTC Canada First Nations Programs, reported that her team of young adults, most from the Mish Adventure Summer Program, have had a truly amazing time helping assemble beds and seeing the immediate impact it is having.

Parents are appreciative, perhaps overwhelmed by the generosity of the gift of bunk beds. One young person commented, “Lots of people come up to Mish - but I've never seen anyone do anything like you are doing - giving us beds to make sure the kids have a place to sleep.” He said it's such a blessing for his people.

You can be a part of this work in the far North. Your gift will go immediately to helping ensure children are not sleeping on a cold floor this winter. Click here to go to the Bunk Bed donation page or click the button below to make your donation immediately.

AWARD WINNING SINGER-SONGWRITER LENDS A HAND

2010-12-07T13:28:00.001-05:00

It was a partnership that started back in 2005 and culminated in a song! “After the Song” was penned by multi-award winning Singer-Songwriter, Ali Matthews and added to a reissue of her Christmas CD, “On Angels’ Wings”.

Ali Matthews

On Sunday December 5th Ali held her Annual Christmas Concert in support of FTC Canada. The event held in Stratford, Ontario, at the elegant Church Restaurant, was hotly anticipated by people far and wide and was packed out.

During the concert, Ali talked about how “After the Song” came to be. In thinking about the struggles of others around world, she could not help but think that, once Christmas ended, those people were likely still struggling. It became clear to her, and she wrote:

Finding the lost, feeding the hungry
The motherless child without a prayer
Ending the wars, calming the angry
And soothing the souls in despair
When we can love a world that’s broken apart
That’s when Christmas will start

Ali will donate a portion of her concert ticket sales to FTC Canada to support the ongoing work of feeding hungry children in Canada and around the world.

You can receive a copy of “On Angels’ Wings” for a $20.00 donation. Just click the button below to donate now. Please share this post with your friends so they can enjoy this special offer.
(offer available to December 17, 2010: we can not guarantee delivery for December 25, 2010)

On Angels' Wings

2005 Seasonal Song Of The Year*: "On Angels’ Wings"

2006 Seasonal Song Of The Year*: "Brand New Miracle"

*GMA Canada Covenant Awards

CHARACTER: HIGH SCHOOLS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

2010-11-29T13:34:00.002-05:00

It used to be that the phrase, “a person of character”, inherently meant “good” character. As we look at more than a decade where our politicians, business leaders, sports stars and celebrities have drained the previous positive inference, out of the word character, a ray of hope is emerging ... from our high schools.

It is one thing to employ a tag-line or slogan that includes the idea of building character in our students of today, it is another to build and implement programs that both teach our children and put into practice the principles held forth.

Meadowvale High School and West Credit High School in Mississauga are achieving integrity in implementing such a vision, by partnering with several vendors in the city and with FTC Canada. Together we are building bunk beds to send to First Nations communities north of Sioux Lookout, where conditions for families are deficient.

According to the 2007 Child Health Summit, "Living conditions for First Nations people rank 63^rd in the world - comparable with developing countries - and one of the root causes of poor health in these communities."

A lack of proper sleep for children is detrimental to their development and health. Changes in sleeping habits can impair a child’s learning, memory and ability to concentrate. To try and address the problem of a serious shortage of adequate beds, FTC Canada has developed the First Nations Bunk Bed Program.

This Christmas is the launch of a three-year program that FTC Canada has initiated with the support of major corporate partner, Vale. The goal is to deliver at least 100 beds a year for three years to several First Nations communities.

“Our hope is to provide proper sleeping spaces for at least 600 children in these communities”, said FTC Canada’s First Nations Coordinator Karen Ward.

We have the support of many people, however, more beds need to be built, bedding and other supplies are still required and the product needs to be delivered to the Far North. We invite you to be a part of this vital project.

Please CLICK HERE to help now!

FEEDING HUNGRY CHILDREN IN NICARAGUA

2010-11-26T13:04:00.000-05:00

It is not always possible to obtain video footage of the work we do with our partners, amateur or otherwise.

Over the last several years we have shipped tens of thousands of meals to our partner World Mission Outreach in Nicaragua. One of our donation partners involved in supporting that cause is the Ontario Christian Gleaners.

Here are some images that a volunteer has provided in thanks of the work that we have been able to facilitate with our Canadian partners feeding children in Nicaragua.

Cliff Cline
Vice President - Chief Operating Officer

UNISYNC CANADA PRESIDENT: PARTNERSHIP WITH FTC CANADA

2010-11-16T10:15:00.002-05:00

Unisync Canada President Carmin Garofalo talks to FTC Canada VP-COO Cliff Cline about the partnership that was formed and ultimately galvanized by the disaster in Haiti.

Love From Guatemala

2010-11-14T11:26:00.000-05:00

Medical Team In Action

2010-11-14T08:20:00.001-05:00

Everyday in Guatemala put the Medical Team into a school room. Schools or churches with classrooms are generally made available for us to use, and if they are not free that day, school children are given the day off like they were in Palencia.

The medical portion of the team this week was made up of 6 doctors, one paramedic and two nurses (two other nurses were on the team, one in dental and one handing out glasses). They would split into groups of 4 each day, meeting up with their Guatemalan interpreters. Set-up for the "doctor's office" required a chair for interpreter and "doc", chairs for patients, tables for various medical tools and then it was off to work.

You can see that it also became a small operating theater near the end of this video. Dr. Muhn removed some non-dissolving stitches from a woman's C-section as they were creating a reoccurring infection in her abdomen.

Day 5: Heartbreak in El Morlon

2010-11-14T01:27:00.004-05:00

“My heart’s just breaking.” the doctor said to me, tears accompanying her obvious anguish.

A little 9 year old boy had been brought to the clinic today here in El Morlon by his aunts. They were deeply concerned. He had not been eating enough and was vomiting, something was clearly wrong.

Paola and Daniele

As Dr. Sasha High and her interpreter Paola spoke to the boy he began to tell a story that was no doubt the source of his sickness. A year ago his parents left him to go to the US and they have not been heard from since. His parents left him behind.

What do you do with this emotion? How do you treat it? Can you prescribe a pill, some sort of medicine that will make it go away? I think you know the answer.

Dr. Sasha and Paola could only listen like they have never listened before. The cried with Daniele and held him hard in their arms. In this midst of all this there was a sickening realization that that he had not only been abandoned by his parents, but there was a distinct possibility he may never see them again.

Dr. Sasha with Daniele

In the exchange of tears, Daniele told his care givers that he wants to be a doctor when he grows up. With a sense of urgency and love they told him that he was very special and that they loved him very much.

With each word came more heartbreak.

Outside there are hundreds of families that I can hear talking and laughing. If I look out the window I see beautiful, idyllic country, a lake in the distance, mountains and blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds. If I pretended for a moment, maybe close my eyes ... I could be in a cozy villa or seaside resort. I’m not at one of those places. I’m in the middle of heartbreak.

Dental Team In Action

2010-11-14T00:32:00.001-05:00

The Dental Team is a group of consumate pros! On these Medical Teams they work hard for long hours often confined to very limited spaces. While this may seem problematic, but the spirit of unity among the groups is palatable and the closer they get the better it is for doctor and patient alike!

The Week In Guatemala: The Tough Cases

2010-11-13T23:17:00.005-05:00

Dr. Jason (left), Dr. Mke (right)

The following are summaries to illustrate patient cases where additional care is recommended. Generally these recommendations come through extensive consultation, first by doctors, then by FTC Canada and FTC Guatemala staff.

The consultation by doctors usually indicates that a case is more serious and that further arrangements should be made for medical stays or prescribed interventions.

FTC Canada and FTC Guatemala make arrangements, first to ensure payment can be made for further treatments and then to work out transportation and other logistics.

These summaries are in no way meant to be proper medical assessments. They are a combination of this bloggers notes with some input from doctors and others present at the time.

There was a fairly young man needing a MRI because of unexplained numbness on the right side of his face. Dr Jason Lazarou (Neurology expert) ran a series of tests to try and isolate any neurological problems but could not make a diagnosis without the additional testing.

A woman came to the clinic with a complaint of a mass on her breast. Dr. Mike Gilmour attempted to drain fluids from the area but was unsuccessful. FTC Guatemala has arranged for her to go to hospital for further testing.

Earlier in the week a young man with blindness in one eye was presented to Dr. Jason. His vision in the one eye had been lost within the last month. He also presented with lower motor neuron seventh cranial nerve palsy (likely formed within past 3 days). A series of tests – very expensive tests – would normally be ordered for a patient presenting these symptoms. At the very least, a MRI, lumbar puncture, blood tests (for syphilis – amongst other things) and a chest x-ray. This, according to Dr. Jason is perhaps a minimum series of tests required.

Dr. Mike consults with Dr. Channy
A little girl came into the clinic with severe burns to her hands and arms, face and scalp. She had been left in her home alone several years before, when a house fire developed. The results of the fire were devastating. Her hands were essentially melted, muscles and bones both. Dr. Channy Muhn attended to her and really wants to ensure her long-term care. Initially this will involve sending special materials from Canada to Central America. These will be used immediately to insure some restoration to skin. This is a very complex case that appears not only FTC Canada and Guatemala are committed to, but Dr. Channy seems willing to pursue in order to restore some use to the young girls hands.

A middle-aged woman named Elena came to the clinic in the afternoon on Day 5. She presented with a large tumour in her breast. A suspected breast cancer requires biopsy. Dr. Sasha High thinks that it is most likely cancerous but the biopsy will confirm this assessment.

The team at FTC Guatemala takes these more severe cases into their care. They will ensure hospital visits are arranged and follow-up care provided. The resources of FTC Guatemala are non-existent and the care can only be funded through FTC Canada.

Dr. Tony Brown treats a Guatemalan family

Day Four: Dr. Brown Recap

2010-11-13T08:18:00.000-05:00

Dr. Anthony Brown or Dr. Tony is the FTC Canada Medical Team Advisor and provides key leadership to the entire medical team. This includes advance trips into each country we visit as well as working with FTC Canada President Ken Dick to select the team members.

This short video is a recap of the past few days and a quick starter for Day 4.

Day Four: Team Impact In San Francisco Sales

2010-11-13T00:22:00.003-05:00

As the FTC Canada Medical Team opens up for a new day, there is a transformation of sorts. Small school rooms become home for teams of doctors working right alongside each other. Pharmacy sets up a wall of blue boxes holding creams and pills. Dental has already been on site an hour before we have arrived. Their “home” today is a very small school room adjacent to a demolished school hall. The hall was destroyed by a hail of volcanic ash and rock.

San Francisco Sales is just under the rim of an active volcano. The last active eruption left a thick layer of black ash everywhere. Some buildings were pelted with hot rock that simply seared its way through metal roofs. As I noted, entire buildings were destroyed by more accurate missiles launched from above.

Perhaps it is odd, but FTC Canada shipped a large quantity of high-quality boots and shoes to Gu. The boots, in particular, are a true asset for the men and women that make their living in the fields or need to travel long distances across dusty roads – and when they aren’t dusty they are muddy.

Distribution is in a very small room today – virtually a hole in the wall. In this room Janice and her team organize a vast array of great products. There are shoes and sandals, pants and shorts, shirts and winter jackets. In addition to this there are toys and really cute knitted dolls that were made by a knitting club in Cambridge, ON. Then there is very healthy food products in particular a bag of soup mix from the Gleaners. This soup bag can make 30 bowls of delicious soup.

Like Pharmacy, Distribution experiences an out-pouring of gratefulness from the people here. They may already have a bag full of pharmaceuticals, now they are about to get an abundance of supplies. As one boy looked longingly at his new soccer ball, a few of us commented that it was a lot like Christmas.

There is little access to medical care in this community. Young and old are making their way through the clinic. Some are hoping for a caring doctor to help them feel better. They get that, as caring doctors are all we have and pharmacy has a tremendous supply of medicines.

They get unexpected care perhaps through a new set of reading glasses; they get a surprise with access to great products at distribution. Even more surprising are the transformations in dentistry.

Today I filmed a complete tooth reconstruction – actually two front teeth. The young girl had what amounted to a bullet-hole size section of missing tooth material! I watched as the area was prepped drilled back to the point that there was virtually nothing left (removing excess rot). Dr. Jack Cottrell then performed a root canal, created a base for the new teeth to be reconstructed. Think rebar and concrete as it appeared to be like that.

What happened next was nothing short of spectacular. This young girl’s smile was transformed from a rotting hole, to something she would be proud of; she would look in the mirror and see a very beautiful set of teeth that would complement her pretty face. She would be very proud; Dr Jack was already on to the next patient (long line-ups) perhaps getting prepared to transform yet another smile.

Dr. Rick Caldwell talks with assistant Iris Renderos

Day Three: Meet The Mayor

2010-11-11T09:57:00.001-05:00

Day Three: Palencia

Today we all met the Mayor. Mayor Beto is the the mayor of Palencia, and a key political figure among mayoral leadership in Guatemala.

FTC Canada President Ken Dick, met Mayor Beto several years ago. At the time, a relationship was forged as the mayor put up seed money for a new school and Ken agreed to support the project. The school was eventually constructed (in a remote area of the region) and Ken was joyfully welcomed back by all the young students in a beautiful ceremony featuring generous portions of red and white.

In the city centre of Palencia is a large school complex where we set up the clinic. With this type of easy access, it was no surprise to see a line-up. This line would persist throughout the morning and into the afternoon.

Dr. Channy Muhn

While we are in the process of introductions, let me also introduce you to the two doctors I am following as part of the development of a mini documentary. Dr. Channy Muhn, is a veteran – as it turns out being a veteran only means you need to have been on more than one team. Dr. Muhn is a dermatologist; a skin specialist extraordinaire.

Dr. Muhn is a funny guy. His light-hearted approach to his work brings smiles to colleagues and puts his patients very much at ease. While each doctor on the team is charged with providing primary care Dr. Muhn is constantly consulted for his expertise in skin diseases. Dr. Muhn is also an excellent teacher. He expects his peers to listen and learn, and because he is so clear they can easily understand his explanations. The result is a growing team of skin specialists!

Dr. Sasha High is an FTC Canada Medical Team rookie. She is a third year resident at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Toronto and soon to be Chief Resident in her fourth year. When you first meet Dr. Sasha, you may feel an immediate sense of peace. She is clearly a rare spirit, and blessed with many gifts.

If I were a patient, with my head bowed low, carrying a burden of poor health and I looked up to see Dr. Sasha here’s what I think I would feel. I think I would feel like I was in the presence of an angel. I would feel immediately at peace. I would feel like this doctor was going to be genuinely interested in my concerns and not just my health concerns.

These two doctors are remarkable people. This whole team is remarkable and I can’t help but get a bit teary, even now, as I consider the good work they are so invested in here: heart, mind and soul.

John
Communcations
FTC Canada

Day Three: On Palencia

2010-11-11T08:24:00.000-05:00

From Ken Dick, President, FTC Canada

It’s our third clinic day and we are now in the town of Palencia. We are not surprised at the numbers of people that we see in line, but we were a bit worried. In El Patrocinio, our arrival was met by a mere dozen people. People did continue to arrive and within the hour the line had grown to 150 patients. And they kept coming. At the end of the day nearly 1000 patients had been treated, nearly 150 being dental patients.

I am reminded of the school FTC Canada built in the region of Palencia two years ago. Mayor Beto is very pleased that we have returned with our medical and dental professionals.

We were greeted warmly by the community here and went to work as soon as we could in the morning. There are several new people on the team but that has not been a problem in any way. In fact on this our third day working together, there is a strong spirit of camaraderie. We are working together with the common goal of providing the most excellent primary medical and dental care we can.

Our blog will report on today’s activities. As I write this, I know it will tell you about the hundreds of happy people in Palencia who visited our clinic, received treatment and left with food, clothing and medicines. We are so grateful for the opporunity to be here.

Ken

Video: The End Of Day Two (Fun On The Bus)

2010-11-10T08:14:00.000-05:00

As we left El Patrocinio we were blessed with a down hill ride off the volcano and into the sunset. As we made our way back into Guatemala - very quickly I might add - one of the buses got out of the cue!

Internet In Guatemala

2010-11-10T07:26:00.001-05:00

We have had two days in a row with very limited internet access in the place we are staying. As a result, anyone relying on that for communications has had to wait for that "Wi-Fi window" to open. Cell phone users strictly dedicated to Wi-Fi have suffered the same fate.

Cell phone users in Canada likely know that they pay more for that luxury than anywhere else on the planet. In Guatemala, a cell phone and a phone plan are very inexpensive. It is not unusual to see people you don't normally expect to have a phone, carrying one here.

There are no land lines in the places we are going so having a cell phone is the one to "connect". Phone companies know this and almost give the phones away. It is actually possible to have a phone, with a SIM card but have no cell phone plan. With this you can take unlimited incoming calls. The phone companies know that eventually, someone has to pay to send a call.

I asked little children to identify my iPhone. None of them seemed to recognize it as an iPhone but they all could tell me it was a cell phone. All that to say, that the cell phone is ubiquitous and here is a late video submission from Day One in Las Trojes!

Day Two: El Patrocinio, Pacaya

2010-11-10T00:19:00.005-05:00

PHARMACY

Pharmacy is anything but the end of the line. In fact, it is the start of well being, continued peace of mind and a chance to heal. Chris knows this and is proud of the work the pharmacy team does.

Chris Ritskes

Chris Ritskes is the Chief Pharmacist for Lakeridge Health Port Perry. In Guatemala, Chris and his wife Krista are part of the team providing medicines and vitamins to the families in El Patrocinio. Chris is a veteran, having been a part of all the FTC Canada Medical Teams. I have fond memories of watching his tall frame manage the very first clinic we set up in Honduras.

The small truck that had been parked in the living room was moved out to accommodate the pharmacy. We moved all the boxes in across two or three tables. Then we moved Chris and the team in. Every time he crossed from one side of the small room to the other, he had to be conscious of the rapidly sloping roof. Somehow he managed to keep his head bump free despite his 6’ 5” frame.

DENTAL TEAM

Michelle and Jack

Dr. Jack Cottrell and his wife, Michelle, have been part of the teams since OCT 08. The team to Nicaragua was the first to include dental. This was a major accomplishment since taking equipment into a mobile clinic can easily done; taking what amounts to an entire dental clinic is quite another thing.

Each day a truck load of equipment makes its way to the next location. Besides the obvious things, like dental tools, all the sterilizing equipment, chairs, lights, cleaning tools, drills, and the list goes on, need to be dropped at the next clinic.

Dr. Jack was reminding me today that one of the major things that can be done in this type of dentistry is to restore self-esteem. Men and women are very conscious of cavities that form in between the front teeth. If allowed to progress, it causes the teeth to go black and they can obviously decay to the point of falling out. That later option, while unpleasant, is a common result of never seeing a dentist.

Before

After

Two women were in the clinic at the same time lying in chairs across the room from each other. One was 39 and the other was 47. Do some quick math and you find that is 86 years. That collectively, was the number of years they had gone without seeing a dentist ... ever! The younger was suffering advanced gum disease and her front teeth were quite black. The other women featured in the photos (before and after above) had significant blackening between her front teeth. Upon closer inspection the extent of darkness was progressing more profoundly behind her teeth (due to cavities).

Here’s the bottom-line. With a bit of care and extra time, Dr. Jack and the other dentists can essentially bring the decay to a halt. This means their teeth, will mostly likely last for the rest of their lives. White teeth, teeth that will never fall out, create dignity and a sense of confidence. It’s remarkable work the dental team is doing.

Las Trojes: Day One For The Medical Team

2010-11-09T08:28:00.001-05:00

Las Trojes is a community just outside the city of Amaltitlan. It is a beautiful area up in the hill country and the location for Day One of the Medical Team Clinics.

The Dental Team was on site for an hour before the rest of the team. For the first time, our generator decided to be difficult, creating some logistical issues; however, despite the set back the dental team would go on to see 148 patients, a tremendous accomplishment! While extractions were common, restorations were the real joy for the team. This is the opportunity to restore a tooth rather than simply pull it out

Distribution hit the ground running as the prep for each day had been done the night before. Sorting of so many great things like underwear, boots and shoes and assorted clothing. Soccer shirts donated by a Guelph, Ontario soccer association were a huge hit as were the soccer socks!

As I spent most of my time with the doctors, following the activities of two in particular, I have to note one thing: It is as if they had been working in this setting, doing this type of primary care for months as a team. Once the patients began arriving there was only a brief respite for them and their translators to grab lunch.

The phrase, "love is a verb", is one we as a team have embraced. It is not simply about processing as many people as possible with no thought to person or circumstance. It has been amazing to see the team listen and care for those who came asking for our help. It's not about us, as we were reminded when we set off in the morning. It's about the people of Guatemala.

Life In Guatemala: Getting Adjusted

2010-11-07T20:48:00.001-05:00

Today, the Medical Team - all the people from Canada - joined forces with the FTC Guatemala Team on a hill overlooking Antigua, Guatemala. This was the point where we really came together to form one team.

Our first adjustment in Guatemala was to Guatemala City and the slightly chilly air. I suppose that is not really a grand thing for the Canadians to deal with!

The next adjustment was to the culture and settling in to a new schedule. Today began with essential jobs performed by the smaller teams, doctors, dentist, pharmacy and distribution.

Vitamins and other pills needed to be sorted into smaller packages, an entire shipping container of clothing, shoes, and other supplies needed to be unboxed and made ready for each day in the field.

Doctors met to review plans and dentists made last minute adjustments to equipment to ensure everything was in working order.

With a great head start we adjourned for Antigua for a quick visit to the old capital city and then off to a coffee plantation for a final team get together.

The blog entries this week will feature the activities of the groups I've just mentioned and I'll tell you about some of the children and families we are helping with essential primary care.

It can not be emphasized enough that this type of care, be it medical or dental, can not be afforded by the people we see. We also know that families will often go months, even years without ever seeing to the basic health concerns they experience. This can lead to much bigger problems.

I will also be spending more focused time on 2 team members. They will be the subjects of a mini-documentary so I will be interacting with them daily and bringing their story to life on the screen (not the "big" screen, but the screen nontheless).

Thank you for joining us on this journey, and thank you for your support; it is helping the people of Guatemala in very tangible ways.

The Journey Begins: Toronto to Guatemala

2010-11-07T20:02:00.002-05:00

Hi, John Matthews here and your blogger for the week in Guatemala. I hope to post updates, photos and video of our time here. I shot the video below while I was in Toronto, but you at least should know that we are here safely in the heart of Guatemala City and doing well.

While Toronto is far behind - the weather may not be. It was very cool here when we arrived meaning sweaters and jackets required!

Stay tuned for more.

John Matthews
Communications
FTC Canada

Medical Team Safely In Guatemala

2010-11-07T19:26:00.000-05:00

The FTC Canada Medical Team is safely on the ground in Guatemala. From Toronoto to Central America (El Salvador to Guatemala) was a tiring day and everyone was ready for a good nights rest.

Various parts of the team are already hard at work. Those teams include, medical, dental, pharmacy and distribution. Stay tuned as the week has only just begun and there will be plenty more to follow.

John Matthews
Communications
FTC Canada

FIRST NATION BUNK BED PROGRAM

2010-10-21T10:05:00.001-04:00

After several months of planning, I am pleased to report the First Nation Bunk Bed Program is launching. Here are some of the reasons why we have begun this good work.

Recent studies established that “living conditions for First Nations people rank 63^rd in the world - comparable with developing countries - and are the root causes of poor health.” The Canadian Department of Indian and Northern Affairs has reported that “overcrowding, mould, and unsafe drinking water help spread communicable diseases at a rate 10 to 12 times higher than the national average. Over 40% of homes are considered inadequate shelter.” Living conditions in First Nations communities in Canada are comparable to many lesser-developed countries.

Since 2005, FTC Canada has been supporting First Nations children and families in Northern Ontario through the distribution of food and supplies and operating a summer day camp. It is a natural progression to consider other ways to help children in the North.

Sometimes, as many as twenty individuals will live in one home together, which obviously does not provide adequate sleeping accommodation. Family members must take turns sleeping in the few beds they have. Unfortunately, many of those lacking a bed at night are children; who are often found wandering around the reserve in the middle of the night.

It is an established fact that a lack of proper sleep for children is detrimental to their development and health. Changes in sleeping habits can impair a child’s learning, memory and ability to concentrate. To try to address the problem of a serious shortage of beds we developed the First Nation Bunk Bed Program. This will go a long way to providing proper sleeping accommodation for many children living on First Nations reserves in Northern Ontario.

We are preparing to deliver 100 beds to two Northern Ontario reserves by the end of January 2011. Volunteers have already offered to go to the reserves to assist in assembling the beds.

The communities are excited about getting the beds. One mother stated how wonderful it would be to have all her children sleeping at the same time, in the same place, at the proper hour of the day. One Chief related how these beds will go a long way to help change the social dynamics of the community.

CLICK HERE to learn more about how to provide a bed to First Nation children.

Ken Dick, C.A.

President

TI CATS TV COVERS THANKSGIVING FOOD DROP

2010-10-18T12:57:00.000-04:00

FTC Canada partnered with Marwan Hage of Hage's Heros to bring food to families in The City of Hamilton.

Click here to see the video on TICATS TV.

CHCH TV IN HAMILTON COVERS FOOD BOX DISTRIBUTION

2010-10-18T12:54:00.000-04:00

A boxful of bounty can help. For a lot of families money is short and shopping sprees of any kind are not possible including at the grocery store.

Check out the video on CHCH TV. Click Here!

THANKSGIVING FOOD DROP: HAMILTON ON

2010-10-15T11:33:00.001-04:00

Saturday October 9, 2010

On Saturday October 9^th, for third year in a row, FTC Canada, Marwan Hage and Hage’s Heroes, the Hamilton Tiger Cats and Caravan Logistics distributed Family Food Boxes to families in need in The City of Hamilton on the Thanksgiving weekend holiday.

Eight distribution partners joined forces to serve the families in need including , Eva Rothwell Centre, Hamilton East Kiwanis Boys’ & Girls’ Club, The Hamilton Dream Center, Hughson Street Baptist Church, King’s Way Blessing Centre, West Hamilton Wrap Around, and City Kidz.

Weighing approximately 30 pounds, the Family Food Box can provide a family of 4 with enough food for about three days. In the 1000 boxes distributed or alongside, were quality products from our Corporate Partners: Nestle Waters, Oakrun Bakery, Advantage Packaging, and Zellers Fairview Mall (St. Catharines). MacNabb Presbyterian Church also provided food for the boxes.

Each agency identified children and families in need and distributed a voucher to be exchanged for a Family Food Box. It turned out to be a great day: cool autumn air, clear skies and warm sun.

Over 30 volunteers from Oakville based Caravan Logistics provided support for the day. Caravan Logistics also donated a truck and driver to transport the food boxes from the FTC Canada warehouse in Guelph to Ivor Wynn Stadium in Hamilton.

Marwan Hage and several Tiger Cat players joined Caravan volunteers to hand out the family food boxes and the Hamilton Tiger Cats and Compass Group supplied BBQ hot dogs for 500 children at the event.

Last year FTC Canada shipped over $1,000,000 of food and other essentials into the city of Hamilton partnering with agencies working directly with families in need of food.

FLYING TO GUATEMALA

2010-10-06T14:34:00.000-04:00

Flying into Guatemala City through rain filled clouds reminded me of my previous visit almost three years ago. Exciting things have happened since then including the building of a new school, two wells have been drilled and our Medical-Dental Team provided care to thousands. Well, here we go again!

On November 6th our next Medical-Dental Team will leave Toronto for Guatemala City, Guatemala. Getting the 27 member team there along with what seems like “tons” of baggage is always interesting, but between the time we arrive at Toronto International (really early in the morning) and our arrival at Guatemala City, the bonding process will have begun. When we come to end of this mission, we shall all be good friends (we hope!).

At the end of September, Dr. Anthony Brown (FTC Medical Advisor) and I spent 3 days visiting communities outside Guatemala City. We met with local community leaders, all of us enduring what seemed like constant rainfall. Our capable Director for Central America, Efrain de los Rios, drove us up to the side of a volcano to a community where there had been major damage caused by a violent eruption last May. Black ash still covered the roads and much of the landscape. Our plan is to take the team into several communities in that mountainous area.

Palencia is a region of more than 55,000 people. This is familiar territory for Dr. Brown and me. Mayor Beto, always an enthusiastic host was once again gracious in his welcome. He smiled broadly when we told him we planned to bring the medical team back into Palencia in November.

It was a very productive few days, traveling the deeply rutted, muddy roads of rural Guatemala. Our goodbyes to Efrain and the amazing Central America Feed The Children staff were hopeful; it wouldn't be long until we were back together again.

At the upcoming team orientation on October 23, 2010, photos will be presented, highlighting the five communities chosen for the Medical-Dental clinics. It won’t be long now and we will be off to Guatemala. I’m excited. I hope you are too!

Ken Dick, C.A.

President

PS You can follow the team here at this blog site as there will be daily updates (internet permitting)

PSS You can support the Medical-Dental program by clicking here.

PLANNING: TEAM TO GUATEMALA

2010-09-29T14:03:00.000-04:00

FTC Canada is currently in Guatemala, where plans are being made for the next Medical-Dental team.

The team will land in Guatemala in early November. You can learn more about the work at our website (click here) or follow the team's daily activities at this blog.

FTC Canada Medical Team Advisor, Dr. Anthony Brown is scouting out locations for the next team. Joining him in this process, is FTC Canada President Ken Dick. Selecting a good location means first meeting the needs of the community where we will serve. Meeting local officials and community leaders is an important part of planning.

Sites must support the "portable" team; allowing room for a pharmacy, food and supplies, and of course doctor and dental areas. The later two require waiting space, room for practitioners, assistants and if required translators to see patients and private areas that allows for discreet interviews and minor surgeries.

There will be 5 locations chosen, all within reach of Guatemala City. This is a region we have been in before, so there is a good chance we will be making a return visit to sites we have previously served.

HAITI FUNDRAISER: DINNER PROGRAM

2010-09-20T14:21:00.001-04:00

We are looking forward to the Haiti Fundraiser coming up on September 24, 2010 in Burlington, ON. Tickets are still available for this special evening gathering.

The evening program looks like it will provide a great deal of insight into Haiti:

Program:
Doors Open ~ 6:00 PM
Dinner ~ 7:00 PM
Speakers for the evening

~ Paramedic Grant Rumford - Mr Rumford, was stationed at Mission of Hope in Haiti when the earthquate struck.
~ Dr. Anthony Brown, FTC Canada Medical Advisor - Dr. Brown will talk about the FTC Canada Emergency Team that was sent to Haiti 8 days after the quake.
~ Otis Garrison, VP Mission of Hope Haiti - Mr. Garrixon will share his thoughts on the future of Haiti

HAITI FUNDRAISING DINNER
BURLINGTON CONVENTION CENTRE
SEPTEMBER 24, 2010, 7:00 PM
DOORS OPEN: 6:00 PM

Please click Purchase Tickets to go to the ticket Ticket Page.

BUS TO HAITI FROM FTC CANADA

2010-09-10T16:36:00.000-04:00

A bus bound for Haiti was loaded onto a flatbed transport in the work yard of local trucking company MacKinnon Transport Inc. From Guelph the load will head south to sunny Florida to board a boat for the journey to Port au Prince.

Times for all these events to occur become harder to predict the closer the bus gets to Haiti. Transport schedules are fairly predictable from Canada to the boat, but once in the port in Florida other factors come into play. Certainly getting a boat into the earthquake damaged port of Port au Prince comes with its own set of challenges.

Once on terra firma, the bus will journey about 45 minutes to the Mission of Hope (MOH) compound. MOH is a partner NGO of FTC Canada and home to a school, feeding centre, hospital and emergency clinic. FTC Canada sent an ambulance to MOH just prior to the devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010.

Thank you to MacKinnon Transport and to the generous people helping to financially support the transport of this bus to Haiti. Donations are still required to transport containers of supplies to Haiti and to rebuild homes. Please give generously to FTC Canada as our work there continues. If you or your business would like to raise money for programs or projects in Haiti, please call 1.877.382.2262.

HAITI FUNDRAISER: SPEAKER ANNOUNCED

2010-09-03T10:52:00.003-04:00

On September 24, 2010, Paramedic Grant Rumford will take us on a journey to the very heart of Haiti.

FTC Canada sent Grant Rumford to Haiti to work with partner NGO, Mission of Hope. In May 2009 Grant decided to take a leave from the Halton Paramedic Service. This was an opportunity of a lifetime for his whole family and a chance for Grant to provide leadership for the emergency services at the Hospital of Hope.

At the FTC Canada Haiti Fundraiser you will hear all about Haiti One, the ambulance that would eventually make it's way to Haiti and play a key role in a time of crisis. You will learn about how the earthquake on January 12, 2010 changed so many lives and thrust Grant headlong into the epicenter of the disaster.

FTC Canada sent an emergency medical team to Haiti just 8 days after the quake struck Port au Prince. This was an unexpected surprise for Grant and a huge boost of confidence as he had his "crew" from Halton working alongside him in the battle to save lives!

You will not want to miss this event:

HAITI FUNDRAISING DINNER
BURLINGTON CONVENTION CENTRE
SEPTEMBER 24, 2010, 7:00 PM
DOORS OPEN: 6:00

Tickets: $50 per ticket, $400 per table of 8
Please click HERE to go to the Haiti Fundraiser page to purchase tickets.

HAITI FUNDRAISER

2010-08-23T15:23:00.007-04:00

Like no other time in history there is a loss of hope in Haiti. FTC Canada is there to help restore and rebuild that hope for without it there is no future.

Please join us on September 24, 2010 for an event that will serve to remind you that supporting and caring for your brothers and sisters in Haiti has really just begun.

HAITI FUNDRAISING DINNER
BURLINGTON CONVENTION CENTRE
SEPTEMBER 24, 2010, 7:00 PM
DOORS OPEN: 6:00

Tickets: $50 per ticket, $400 per table of 8

Please click HERE to go to the Haiti Fundraiser page to purchase tickets.

PAKISTAN: FLOOD DISASTER

2010-08-23T12:24:00.004-04:00

Please give to FTC Canada to help families in Pakistan cope with the flood.

MEDICAL-DENTAL: TEAM TO GUATEMALA

2010-07-28T14:43:00.006-04:00

I can always be sure when returning from a Medical-Dental Team excursion, that I will be asked several times, “When is the next trip and where is it going?”. Because of the preparation time required, we are careful to leave sufficient time between travels to Central America. My answer in February, as we returned from El Salvador was, “Sometime later in the year”!

Dr. Tony Brown (Medical Advisor) and I had to make two major decisions. One, where do we go next, and two, when do we go? It did not take long to decide we should return to Guatemala. Why Guatemala?

The medical/dental needs in Central America are everywhere and unlimited opportunities to share our expertise are welcomed in several countries. Since 2007 we have taken teams to Honduras, Guatemala (2008), Nicaragua and El Salvador. In making the decision to return to Guatemala we talked to the people who partner with us in that country, reviewed recent events that have impacted the people there, including floods and earthquakes and looked carefully at the current political situation and safety factors. There was nothing to keep us from going to Guatemala and plans are under way for a team to be there November 6-14, 2010.

We are often asked if we have problems finding people for the team? No is the short answer. Since our first team to Honduras in 2007, our roster of medical professionals and other support staff has been growing. Our largest team, 30 strong, went to El Salvador in February 2010. This we have discovered, is a level at which we can operate efficiently.

Dr. Tony and I will be visiting Guatemala at the end of September to visit communities where the teams may visit and scout out suitable locations to run our clinics.

If you are a medical professional and would like to get involved please contact me at ken@ftccanada.ca. By the way, there's a good chance we may be in El Salvador, April, 2011.

Ken Dick, President

NORTHERN ONTARIO: NEWS FROM MISH ADVENTURES

2010-07-27T09:26:00.004-04:00

Up to 50 children a day arrive at the Mish Adventures home base by bus each day! And they arrive to a host of great activities; from swimming to volleyball and of course, eating food!

The weather in the North has been ideal; never too hot and never too cold!

A youth camp has been added to provide the older youth with activities that don’t include running over or into the smaller children! About 10 to 15 youth have participated and we have enjoyed afternoon canoe trips to explore the islands and games like Capture The Flag!

Swimming lessons are offered and of course we have the lifeguards to run “free swims”. This ensures not only essential skill development but a safe and fun waterfront for the children.

Because swimming is our #1 fun activity we hosted a Beach Day at the community beach half way between our home base and the main reserve. Most of the day was spent in the water of course! We added some volleyball and naturally some food! Lots of hot dogs roasted on an open fire! Of course everyone wants to have another Beach Day!

The staff get their recreation in the evening and the soccer and baseball games inevitably draw in members of the community who want to “hang out” and enjoy some fun with us.

The staff work hard and they share their care and concern for the children freely. Children here notice unconditional love maybe more so than children in other parts of Ontario and it impacts attitudes and is demonstrated in improved behaviour.

This is our last week here and already we are starting to regret the time when we have to pack up and head back to Southern Ontario.

FTC Canada would still welcome your gifts to help support this program. Please click here to go to the First Nations page.

EL SALVADOR MEDICAL TEAM VIDEO

2010-07-26T16:15:00.006-04:00

In February 2010 the largest Medical-Dental team yet (30) was assembled by FTC Canada for the journey to San Salvador, El Salvador, CA. This would mark the second such trip to El Salvador.

The team spent 5 days working in partnership with other medical professionals and support staff from Feed The Children Central America operating medical clinics and food distributions in the poorest of neighbourhoods around the busy city.

The video features music by singer-songwriter Ali Matthews (www.alimatthews.com).

KOM NETWORKS JUNK-A-JUKE PARTNERSHIP

2010-07-20T10:37:00.007-04:00

In January 2010 we announced a partnership with KOM Networks (Ottawa, ON). The following video shows a shipment of recycled products being loaded at RDM Corporation in Kitchener, destined for a recycling plant in Brampton, ON.

KOM has chosen FTC Canada as its charity of choice directing funds derived from the recycling process to feeding hungry children in Canada and around the world.

GOOD NEWS ON FOOD DROP IN THUNDER BAY

2010-07-16T14:39:00.005-04:00

Thunder Bay families that were in need of food support, received it on July 8, 2010 in the form of a Family Food Box from FTC Canada.

Details of the distribution were picked up by the local press who shone a spotlight on the good work of An Eagle's Cry Centre operated by Sky and Angie Hedricks. The Centre coordinated the event including distribution of coupons to families most desperately in need.

Please click on the following links to learn more about the local coverage:

Click here to read a report in the tbnewswatch.com

Click here to see Thunder Bay News coverage (video opens automatically)

FAMILY FOOD BOXES GO TO FAMILIES IN THUNDER BAY

2010-07-09T13:30:00.008-04:00

An eager and terrific team of volunteers, some from An Eagle's Cry Centre (our host) and some from the FTC Canada Mish Adventure Camp Staff had the entire food box distribution ready to go a day before the actual event!

This included 350 family food boxes (approx. 22lbs each) and 350 hygiene boxes (personal essentials), food and cold drinks provided by the Centre, and games and crafts for the children. There turned out to be an added couple of bonuses for families picking up their boxes. Some families attending had no idea the Centre was open for them throughout the year. Families with small children were also able to help themselves to plenty of children's clothing.

Sky and Angie Hedricks, founders of the Centre were on hand to manage the intake process and to speak with families about the centre and its various programs. Each family had received a voucher which they exchanged for the boxes.

Families were genuinely appreciative of the support and excited to get this type of assistance when sometimes they were running short on food and supplies. Thunder Bay has an improving employment situation but many people are still living in low-income situations.

Our hope is that families in Thunder Bay will remember the generosity of An Eagles Cry Centre and turn to it whenever they find they are in need.

FAMILY FOOD BOX DISTRIBUTION: THUNDER BAY

2010-07-07T14:38:00.003-04:00

Thursday July 8, 2010

Eagles Cry Life Centre in Thunder Bay is distributing 350 food boxes and 350 hygiene boxes to needy families in partnership with FTC Canada.

The distribution will take place at An Eagles Cry Life Centre on 100 Simpson Street in Thunder Bay, ON today (centre founder Sky Hedricks in photo). Volunteers and staff from Eagles Cry will hand out the food boxes (approx. 22 pounds) along with boxes of personal hygiene products.

FTC Canada partners with organizations and companies throughout Canada to provide food and supplies to those in need. Recipients are identified by local social service organizations and receive a food voucher which they redeem at the event. FTC Canada First Nations Camp team will run a children’s program during the event. FTC Canada runs summer camps in Mishkeegogamang and King Fisher Reserves.

MISH ADVENTURES 2010: LEADERS

2010-07-02T14:05:00.005-04:00

There are a high percentage of First Nations children and youth in most of the communities in Northern Ontario. In Mishkeegogamang we have had the privilege of meeting and spending time with several of them over the over the course of three years.

Lauren has been attending Mish Adventures every year since it started in 2007. He is one of the children committed to coming as often as he could. There was always a smile on his face and a desire to help out where he could. “I’m going to make different choices than the some of the youth I know” was one of the first things he said to us. Every summer, Lauren returns to camp and seems to be on a path to making some good choices.

When asked why FTC Canada to such invests in a children’s program in a community that is so far away, the answer that has most been appropriate is, “If the relationships we build with the people in the community changes the direction of even one person’s life, it is a good thing.” If that person chooses hope instead of despair, it was worth it.

Lauren has agreed to be a Junior Leader at Mish Adventures this summer. Helping him find the skills and talents he was born with and developing his leadership potential is an exciting adventure. Our goals at camp are:

To meet the needs of the children;
Give children a place to forget their sadness;
Develop long-term relationships.

We hope to inspire young people to become leaders, in the camp program and in their community. We are excited about our forth summer in Mish. Goals are being met and the journey many of these children are on may, change transform and entire community’s outlook on the future.

Learn more about supporting a child at Mish Adventures: Click Here!

VALUED PARTNERSHIP WITH UNISYNC GROUP

2010-06-21T13:23:00.004-04:00

FTC Canada greatly values the partnership formed with Hanlon Business Park neighbour Unisync Group and their efforts to support needing families overseas particularly in earthquake ravaged Haiti.

Since 2008 Unisync Group has donated over $1 million worth of clothing to FTC Canada for needy children and their families in hurting countries around the globe. Unisync provided $94,000 in clothing for shipment to Port-au-Prince, Haiti where many families lost everything in the massive 7.0 earthquake in January.

FTC Canada has sent 15 containers of food and supplies to partners on the ground in Haiti. Unisync’s desire to reach out in such a global manner demonstrates a willingness to add value to the ongoing international efforts of the charitable work of FTC Canada.

Unisync is a full service, vertically integrated provider of corporate apparel and promotional products. One of Unisync’s core values is contributing to the communities they work in. With a distribution centre located in Guelph, ON Unisync is actively supporting initiatives in the city while collaborating with significant global initiatives.

“Unisync is extremely honored to be partnered with FTC Canada in support of many of the important initiatives their organization heads up”, says Carmin Garofalo, president of Unisync Group. “Along with providing relief and aid on a global level, it was important to us to join with an organization, that supports our communities on local levels as well.”

"THE SCHOOL IS NO LONGER UNDER THREAT OF CLOSURE"

2010-06-07T10:35:00.014-04:00

June 9, 2010

Guelph, Ontario – “The school is no longer under threat of closure….” Those were the words shared by the Head Master of Equator Primary School last week during the commissioning of a brand new set of latrine/toilets just outside Nairobi, Kenya.

In October 2009 it was brought to FTC Canada’s attention that the Nairobi School Board was prepared to shut down Equator Primary School due to the unsafe conditions of the school’s bathrooms unless new ones were built. FTC Canada then called its latrine building partner Connecting Countries and asked if they could take on funding this additional project and they did. Building began in January 2010 and last week the latrines were completed. Three-hundred students now have clean, safe latrines and most importantly will not be forced out of their school.

FTC Canada would like to thank their partner Connecting Countries for their ongoing commitment towards helping provide African students with outstanding learning conditions.

To learn more please visit www.connectingcountries.net

CONORD HOSPITALITY COO, NICK KELLOCK

2010-06-04T15:45:00.003-04:00

Nick Kellock, COO, Concord Hospitality Enterprises on Share Day 2010 with FTC Canada and Concord Share Day activity across North America.

LISA TRACZ TALKS ABOUT CONCORD HOSPITALITY SHARE DAY 2010

2010-05-26T09:24:00.002-04:00

Lisa Tracz is the General Manager of Residence Inn Missisauga Airport Corporate Centre West (a Concord company hotel) and a key organizer of Concord Hospitality Share Day 2010.

We asked her to talk about Share Day 2010, the partnership with FTC Canada and why a family food box distribution matters.

CONCORD HOSPITALITY TEAMS UP WITH FTC CANADA FOR SHARE DAY 2010

2010-05-26T09:12:00.005-04:00

May 25, 2010

Toronto, ON – Thanks to the hard work and generosity of 10 Toronto area hotels, 400 local area families received much needed food and supplies this past week.

Over 25 hotel staff were on hand at Rexdale Alliance Church on May 20th in Etobicoke, ON to volunteer their time to distribute the food boxes packed by FTC Canada. This was all part of Share Day 2010, which is organized by the hotels parent company Concord Hospitality Enterprises. Toronto was one of 7 North American cities that participated in the company’s 2nd Annual Share Day which saw 3,500 families receive food and supplies across Canada and the U.S.

The GTA hotels that participated in this year’s event were the Crowne Plaza Hamilton, Courtyard by Marriott Hamilton, Courtyard by Marriott Markham, Courtyard by Marriott Mississauga Airport/Corporate Centre West, Courtyard by Marriott Mississauga/Meadowvale, Courtyard by Marriott Vaughan, Residence Inn Markham, Residence Inn Mississauga Airport/Corporate Centre West, Residence Inn Mississauga/Meadowvale, and Residence Inn Vaughan.

To learn more about Concord Hospitality Enterprises and the over 70 hotels they manage please visit www.concordhotels.com

MARWAN HAGE, HAGE'S HEROS ON FTC CANADA

2010-05-21T13:57:00.003-04:00

Marwan Hage, Hamilton Tiger-Cat and founder of Hage's Heros talks about food drops in Hamilton, ON and the partnership with FTC Canada (Feed The Children).

BUILDERS TEAM FROM EL SALVADOR TRIP SPEAK

2010-05-14T13:41:00.006-04:00

As noted in the recent blog entry, volunteers from Ontario traveled to El Salvador to the little community of Amatitan.

The team worked hard rebuilding a feeding centre and working on homes that had been impacted by floods and landslides back in November, 2009. FTC Canada and Feed The Children Central America were grateful for the efforts. The workers were obviously impacted by their experience too:

"Now I did expect we would all work together well and for us to work really hard towards our goals, but I didn't expect so many happy faces at the end. Isn't it great when your expectations aren't met because they are so far surpassed?"

"Top ten reasons why El Salvador was such a success. #1-For all of you taking the leap and leaving the comforts of home and touching a fantastic community!"

"There was a lot more missing (from my day now) . . . the drive to the site every morning, the happy greetings of the locals, (and) the always smiling children ..."

"I now realize though that the most important message was to the people of Amititan. A message of hope, love and friendship."

FTC Canada extends it's thanks to this team again ... Gracias

VOLUNTEERS LAY FOUNDATION IN EL SALVADOR

2010-05-06T15:28:00.005-04:00

May 5th, 2010

Guelph, Ontario – 3,600 square feet of foundation, pillars, and walls was laid for the community of Amatitan, El Salvador this past April.

The trip was organized by Guelph based charity FTC Canada who sent down 9 volunteers to begin the rebuilding of a condemned feeding centre and homes for families who had lost theirs in a recent flood.

The team left on Saturday April 17th and began work the next day. The foundation had to be set, a concrete floor was laid, walls were erected and tables for the kitchen were built. The centre is a 20 by 40 ft concrete stable building that has a patio, kitchen, and washroom. Three of the four homes were started by the team with one of them reaching full completion. The homes themselves are close to 700 sq. ft. and are all scheduled to be completed by the summer.

“We are so grateful to our team of volunteers.” says Ken Dick, President of FTC Canada. “It’s an amazing thing for us and the community of Amatitan to have dedicated people like our volunteers give their time and energy towards this building project”

This is the first an FTC Canada construction team has sent overseas and the organization is planning for more in the future. FTC Canada would like to thank our volunteers Clive Ward-Able, Helen and John McGillivray, Jeff Mander, Robyn Tomaney, Rick Olazabal, Eduardo de Abreu, Lynda Quinn and John Sprawson as well as 5th Business Marketing and Labtician Ophthalmics Inc. for their commitment to helping improve the lives of children around the world.

DR. ANTHONY BROWN REFLECTS ON HAITI

2010-05-06T14:59:00.004-04:00

Dr. Anthony Brown has been featured prominently in post about our medical-dental teams as he is the FTC Canada Medical Team Advisor, working closely with Ken Dick, President of FTC Canada.

This video was taken shortly after Dr. Brown returned from Haiti. He was there with a team that was assembled just days after the huge quake rocked Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010.

It is a trip that really had a deep impact on team members and some of that can be seen and felt in Dr. Browns stories.

MEDICAL-DENTAL TEAM IN EL SALVADOR

2010-04-29T09:10:00.008-04:00

In December 2009, Dr. Tony Brown and I visited El Salvador to search out 5 communities that would benefit from the visit of an FTC Canada Medical-Dental Team planning a trip there for early February 2010. It was not difficult to determine where some of the greatest needs existed. Three communities had been impacted by heavy rains in November 2009 - rain so intense, over a short period of time, that it caused landslides. Landslides that killed!

Many people lost their lives. In one community there was a vacant piece of land where once a house had stood. The large boulders rolling down the hill had destroyed the home, and two crosses erected on the vacant property were a reminder to the community that a grandmother and her young granddaughter were also crushed and killed.

Of the five communities we visited with our medical-dental team in February 2010, three of them had been traumatized by the landslides.

Our trip to El Salvador was a return visit, having spent a week there in October 2009 treating hundreds of people. One notable return visit was to a community of settlers in San Salvador, the capital. A poor community with homes made of whatever material was available, usually tin and cardboard and sometimes wood.

During our February trip over 4,000 people received primary medical attention and hundreds received restorative dental care.

This was our largest team ever – 30 Canadians, supplemented by local doctors and dentists.

Has it been a busy few months? It sometimes sounds trite, but it is true - “it’s what God has called us to do”. I am grateful to the medical and dental professionals and support staff that give of their time and contribute financially to make good things happen for people who otherwise have little or no access to medical and dental treatment; whether in Haiti under emergency conditions, or on a planned team visit to Central America.

Not forgetting, that we would be unable to assist those children and their families without the valuable partnership and support of our donors and prayer partners.

So, have the past several months been normal? Not really. But, we wouldn’t want it any other way. When children and families are being helped, we know God is pleased!

If you have any questions or comments, please get in touch with us.

Ken Dick, C.A.
President, FTC Canada

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: HAITI

2010-04-22T09:01:00.010-04:00

“There is no possible way we can get into Haiti!”

That was my first response to the question posed by my contact at the Halton Emergency Medical Services immediately after the devastating January 12th earthquake hit one of the world’s poorest countries. From that moment on we worked hard to make, getting to Haiti, a priority.

Grant Rumford directs emergency medical services at the Mission Of Hope, Haiti, and on that day he was suddenly facing the biggest challenge of his paramedic life. Grant, his wife Sandra and their four children had just experienced their first earthquake – and survived. They escaped from their shaking upstairs apartment by rushing down the metal stairs at the side of the building. What would have been the end of a somewhat normal day at the mission became the beginning of endless days of medical emergencies.

Contact with Halton EMS personnel was to be expected – it’s where Grant worked until the Rumford family moved to Haiti last September. Knowing that their friend and co-worker was facing unimaginable emergency situations, their natural reaction was to find a way to assist him. When I received the call from Halton EMS, together we decided to ask Halton paramedics to indicate their interest in going to Haiti, which resulted in a greater number than we could accommodate in a “first response” team.

The team selected included ten Halton paramedics, one Peel Region paramedic, a pastor, and three doctors, counting Dr. Anthony Brown, FTC’s Medical Advisor. FTC Canada worked feverishly in an attempt to get the team to Haiti, as early responders were in short supply. In cooperation with the Canadian government (CIDA), a flight was secured out of Montreal. The team was on a bus from Guelph January 19th and departing for Haiti at 3:00AM, landing in Port-au-Prince at 8:30AM on the 20th, just hours after a significant 6.1 aftershock; we were in the heart of the disaster.

You can read blog entries from our time there but we were mostly working in middle of Port-au-Prince at the University Hospital. Out team treated hundreds of patients in pre and post-op care – broken bones, severed limbs, lacerations, punctured lungs ... the extent of which I have never seen in over 30 years of working with relief agencies.

After 8 days on the ground we departed for home on a C-17 Canadian military flight, exhausted but satisfied that we had made a difference coming to the aid of Haitians in crisis.

Back home and into the office was a world away from the disaster. It was time to get back to what we might call “normal activity”.

Ken Dick, C.A.
President, FTC Canada

TO MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE - HAITI TRIBUTE

2010-04-16T09:00:00.004-04:00

Ali Matthews is an accomplished Singer-Songwriter from Stratford, ON. Her love for creating and producing music has earned her respect from her peers and fans throughout North America. She is also a long time supporter and spokesperson for FTC Canada.

Her brother is Dr. Anthony Brown, FTC Canada Medical Team Advisor, who helped lead the very first FTC medical team to Honduras in 2007. In January, just days after an earthquake rocked Port-au-Prince Haiti, Dr. Brown was working diligently to secure medicines and supplies and coordinating plans with FTC to send a medical team to the country.

As Ali stood back watching all this unfold, she wondered how she might help too. In the best way she knew how, Ali headed into the studio to produce her own version of the Bob Dylan classic, "To Make You Feel My Love". When images started coming back from the team in Haiti, it was a natural next step to pair music and photos and share it with her fans. The following video can also be found on YouTube.

The video first aired publicly at the 2nd Annual FTC Canada Blue & White Gala March 7, 2010.

To learn more about Ali Matthews visit www.alimatthews.com

BUILDERS CONSTRUCING HOPE IN EL SALVADOR

2010-04-15T16:19:00.002-04:00

April 14, 2010

Guelph, Ontario – Thursday, April 14, 2010 – Instead of bathing suites, sunscreen, and a book for the beach, ten volunteers from the Greater Toronto Area will be packing hammers, power tools, and nails for a trip to El Salvador.

The project has been organized by Guelph based charity FTC Canada. The team of volunteers is heading to the capital of San Salvador to rebuild a dilapidated feeding centre, as well as construct four homes for families that lack a place to live. FTC Canada currently operates a feeding program outside the unsafe building, providing meals for 70 school children each day. Rebuilding the centre will provide the children shelter from the rain and sun.

The team leaves Saturday April 17th for eight days of construction. The feeding centre, when completed, will be a 20 ft by 40 ft concrete, stable building with a patio and kitchen. The four homes will each be approximately 700 sq. ft. The team will work alongside local contractors and families from the community who want to be a part of the rebuilding process.

“Our team is extremely excited to travel to San Salvador and work alongside the community there.” says Jon Sprawson of Design Quorum Inc. “Our goal is to not only build a feeding centre and lay the foundation for some homes, but we also want to come home knowing we helped give children a safe place to eat and sleep.”

Overseas construction projects are a relatively new initiative of FTC Canada. A recently completed project included renovating a feeding centre and painting a school last August in El Salvador. Additionally, a team of medical professionals spent a week operating clinics in several poor communities there in February.

To follow the team and see live updates from the building site visit www.ftccanada.ca. If you are interested in donating or being a part of future teams please contact Ryan Fletcher at ryan at ftccanada.ca.

HELPING HANDS: FTC CANADA IN HAITI

2010-04-07T15:59:00.006-04:00

We trust you have had a chance to read previous blog posts about Haiti. If not, please take the time to read about our emergency medical trip to Port-au-Prince.

Prior to the massive earthquake of January 12, 2010, FTC Canada was partnering with Mission of Hope and others in the country of Haiti. Since that fateful day, FTC has sent medical support, food and supplies and funds to support our partners there.

We have created a report which tells you how we have lent "helping hands" to those children and families most desperately in need in Haiti.

Please click the button to view the report (PDF 2.0MB).

PASTA AND SAUCE TO FEED THOUSANDS IN HAITI

2010-04-06T11:00:00.007-04:00

April 6, 2010

Pasta, tomatoes and sauce en route to feed thousands in Haiti

Guelph, Ontario – Tuesday, April 6, 2010 – Over the next two weeks $84,700 worth of donated product is being shipped on 4 containers out of FTC Canada’s Guelph based warehouse and bound for Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

The first two containers will have 75,000 lbs of spaghetti, penne, and linguini from Concord, ON based Unico Inc. The second two containers heading out next week will have 93,770 lbs of canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, kidney beans, and sardines from Toronto based Primo Foods. The containers are scheduled to arrive in early May and will go to feeding thousands of children and their families who are still without homes.

“Canned and dry products are ideal for overseas work and will be of great help in Haiti.” says Cliff Cline, COO of FTC Canada. "We are extremely grateful to the people at Unico and Primo for generously supporting our ongoing relief efforts there."

Since the January 12th earthquake, FTC Canada will have sent more than $560,000 worth of food, supplies and medicine in 13 containers to Haiti. To learn more about our ongoing efforts please visit www.ftccanada.ca

SPIRIT DAY RAISES FUNDS FOR HAITI

2010-04-05T11:40:00.006-04:00

April 5, 2010

Spirit day raises funds for Haiti.

Caledonia, Ontario – Monday, April 5, 2010 – 200 students from St. Patrick’s School in Caledonia, ON celebrated the spirit of Canada by raising $1,400 for Haiti relief.

As a way to show support for Canadians at the Olympic Games the school organized a “Spirit Day” where students dressed up in red and white and raised funds to help send packages of dry soup to children like them who are in desperate need.

“I am truly inspired and proud to be apart of the St. Patrick's School community in Caledonia.” says Denis Shaw, a mother of two students at St. Patrick’s and a nurse who traveled to Haiti last month. “The students did an amazing job in doing what they can to help.”

The funds raised by the school are helping pay for the shipment of dried soup pouches which left on a container for Haiti this week. FTC Canada has sent 6 containers of food and supplies to Haiti and has two more scheduled to leave in April.

To learn more please visit www.ftccanada.ca.

PARTNERSHIP: PEOPLENET CANADA

2010-04-01T13:53:00.008-04:00

The president of PeopleNet Canada, Jamie Williams, sat down with FTC Canada to talk about our partnership. Please check out this short video:

FTC CANADA FOOD DROP IN MONTREAL

2010-03-01T15:47:00.006-05:00

March 1, 2010

Keltic Transportation Inc. teams up with the Hamilton Tiger Cats and FTC Canada in Montreal.

Guelph, Ontario – Monday, March 1, 2010 – For the second year in a row Keltic Transportation Inc. teamed up with Hamilton Tiger-Cat Offensive Lineman Marwan Hage and Guelph based not-for-profit FTC Canada to provide food and hygiene boxes to 450 families in need through Sun Youth Organization in downtown Montreal.

The Moncton based full load transportation company generously donated its services to bring the 900 boxes from FTC’s Guelph warehouse to Sun Youth’s downtown Montreal warehouse where the food and hygiene boxes were distributed to the families last week. Marwan Hage, a Montreal resident and 2009 CFL All-Star and Tom Pate Award winner was on hand to distribute the boxes personally to the families as part of his Hage’s Heroes program.

“Keltic’s success is based on teamwork in a family atmosphere,” says Shane Esson, General Manager at Keltic “and we are extremely proud to once again partner with FTC Canada and Marwan Hage to help with their transportation needs by bringing much needed food and supplies to the families in Montreal.”

Last May the three groups partnered together and distributed food boxes to Montreal families as part of FTC Canada’s food box distribution program which in 2009 distributed over 2,800 boxes to families in Hamilton, Toronto, Montreal, and Winnipeg.

To learn more about Keltic Transportation please visit www.keltictransportation.com.

CLICK HERE to see this story at the Hamilton TiCats website

CLICK HERE to see this story at Truck News

EL SALVADOR - DAY EIGHT: INTO SOMALIA

2010-02-21T10:50:00.017-05:00

Imagine 2,000 destitute people living on less than $2 per day, crammed into a dusty patch of scrub the size of five city blocks, in the middle of San Salvador.

A classic con man sold property rights he didn't actually have to the residents, draining them of their life savings and leaving them with nothing. They're squatters in the truest sense of the word. The government has turned a blind eye knowing there's no where else for them to go.

They've slapped together makeshift homes out of sheets of remnant plastic, vinyl, cardboard and corrugated tin. There's no running water and only the odd home with electricity but only because it's been illegally pirated from a neighbouring hydro pole. A dusty network of trails, pathways and crude roads connect these dwellers with each other and the city outside. There are no services and no support from a world that shuns this unfortunate community of survivors.

This is Somalia. It's not a place you want to be when the sun goes down. It's home to violent gangs, unspeakable living conditions, crime and poverty. But it's also home to hundreds of families, people with legitimate but low paying work and committed citizens trying to make their community even barely liveable in the absence of any viable alternative. These are the people we came to see. And with the help of their own community organization and enhanced security, we set up our clinic in the heart of Somalia on Saturday. And what a day it was.

There are no schools here so we were offered small plots of land in front of residents' shacks where we set up the Medical and Pharmacy stations. Dental was given the Community Center, which took the form of a concrete floor beneath a tin roof and no walls. Distribution was positioned inside one section of a resident's home.

Somalia, knowing we were coming, played a large role in planning the logistics and met us with a force of committed volunteers who worked tirelessly with us throughout the day. Clearly, this is not your average slum. These people have nothing, yet continue to push on trying to make the best of their lives. And, shocking though it may seem, amid these tragic conditions, the malnutrition and the hopelessness they face every day, the residents of Somalia were patient, gracious, thankful and, in fact, seemed happy.

The children of Somalia are, for the most part, ill-fed, lice-infested and dirty. But they are beautiful, smiling, fun-loving, well-behaved kids who left us marvelling at their spirit and strength. They lined up, some with their families, some alone, and patiently waited for their turn with the Medical team.

In the Medical tent, Dr. Chunny excised a cancerous basal cell growth on a woman's face and a large cyst on the forehead of another. Elizabeth removed a piece of metal from the forearm of a young man. There was some speculation that it was a bullet - but we'll never know. Lexi, one of our paramedics, diagnosed a critical staph infection in a 17 year-old boy who had spilled boiling cooking oil on his leg just a week ago. Untreated, the infection would have become systemic and life-threatening.

Over in Dental, the team saw 137 patients - remarkable - more than the last time FTC was here. Fillings, root canals, extractions and restorative work were conducted all day without a break. This team of dentists and dental assistants is simply incredible.

Distribution passed out food, Crocs, toys and clothing all day - the lines were long and the work hard. But the contributions of this key team will last far beyond today and will really make a difference in the lives of people who have so little.

The longest line was at Pharmacy. The team was beefed up with more support and, one by one, patients received the medications and vitamins prescribed. By the end of the day, over 840 people passed through the Pharmacy tent.

All in all, it was a hot, exhausting but exhilarating day. What a way to end this powerful week of FTC Medical/Dental Clinics.

We begin packing and getting ready to board the plane for home. There are no words to describe what we've seen here, nor explain how we've been affected by the people of El Salvador. Nine days ago, we met at the Toronto airport, many of us not knowing each other and nervous about the week ahead. It's hard to explain how people bond when thrown together in stressful situations. This team is amazing. We cried, laughed, marvelled, admired and, above all, worked hard to help those in need. And we did it together while growing close in ways that only an experience like this can deliver. Thanks to them and thanks to all who followed this extraordinary journey on the blog. Stay tuned - there's much more to come.

EL SALVADOR - DAY 7: LIFE AFTER THE LANDSLIDE

2010-02-19T23:14:00.021-05:00

We drove inland again today to a village called Verapaz. Here, nearly 2,000 people live at the base of a volcano. The drive was beautiful with striking views of the mountains and lush green valleys below. But it wasn't quite so picturesque back in November when heavy rains triggered a massive landslide driving water, mud and hundreds of huge boulders into the village, killing several people and burying homes and cars. The scars on the mountainside, where the mud, water and rocks began their downward journey, are a constant reminder of nature's destructive force.

Once again, we set up in a large school and welcomed the locals in around 9:00 am. And once again, we saw some interesting cases. We met William, 17, who has done his best to manage the severe pain of an ingrown toenail for the past four months. Within ten minutes, Dr. Steve had him on a table, local anesthetic in and the toe expertly treated. Then there was 59 year old Audelia, a diabetic with an infected finger requiring immediate draining. She was in and out in no time.

One of our local dentists, Dr. Mimi was feeling unwell today but she came and worked valiantly until mid afternoon when exhaustion and dehydration began to take a toll. But yet again, she insisted on finishing up her assigned patients. Dr. Tony was consulted and suggested IV fluids to help her make it through the rest of the day. Feeling that an IV line hung from the wall behind her would hinder her ability to engage and treat her patients, Mimi asked Lexi, one of our Paramedics to inject a dose of Ondansetron, a powerful antinauseant, directly into a vein on her left hand while she continued to treat the patient in the chair! Now that's commitment!

While the line-ups today were long again, nowhere were they longer than in Distribution.

Sonia, Janice and their team of refreshing interpreters from a local school patiently distributed underwear, shirts, toothpaste, soap, face clothes, baseball hats, balls, handmade dolls, hair barrettes, small jewellery packets, school supplies and eco-shopping bags. Adults also got food bundles including servings of Vita-Meal, a specially-formulated, highly nutritious rice and lentil mixture.

While the Medical team must sit all day, and the Pharmacy crew must stand all day, the Distribution team spends much of their time on their knees fitting shoes to over 800 people! Why shoes? Because this year, we've got thousands of pairs of Crocs to distribute! The Crocs have been a huge hit and FTC is incredibly grateful for this donation.

Later in the day, the entire group walked up to see the devastation caused by the landslide - it

was a remarkable sight. Piles of massive boulders, mud and debris were littered everywhere. Another relief agency was on-site distributing free food for victims who had lost everything. The whole experience only served to strengthen our commitment to help these people.

On the walk back to the Clinic site, we saw a little boy seated in the doorway of a rundown home playing with his new tennis ball and wearing his new Crocs! That was all we needed to see and it made the Distribution team's efforts all worthwhile. Thanks, Sonia and Janice!

We're off to Somalia tomorrow, an urban slum like no other. We'll be in tents, right in the

heart of it all and could see well over 1,000 patients by day's end. It'll be quite a bit different from our previous clinics but we're primed and ready to go.

This week is drawing to a close too quickly for the FTC team. We're making a difference on the ground and only hope we can get back to El Salvador sooner rather than later.

EL SALVADOR II: THE WEEK IN PICTURES

2010-02-18T23:39:00.028-05:00

Tonight, rather than another lengthy post, we opt for a few shots of the team from the past few days. Tomorrow it's Verapaz and then Somalia - we're in the home stretch and everything is going smoothly.

EL SALVADOR - DAY FIVE: SAN AGUSTIN SUCCESS

2010-02-18T01:12:00.018-05:00

Well, sometimes things just don't work out the way you planned. Some logistical challenges on the ground here in El Salvador meant we didn't make it to Verapaz today but instead set up shop in San Agustin.

We didn't "get the memo" until we were on the bus at 7:30 this morning, thus the misinformation on the blog last night (sorry about that!). Like Joya Grande, the site of our second clinic on Tuesday, San Agustin is another struggling village on the shores of Lake Ilopango. But it took longer to get there, over more treacherous, winding mountain roads with near vertical 500 foot drops just inches from the bus.

We were once again in a school with Distribution, the Pharmacy and Dental set up in one classroom each, while Medical operated out of two classrooms - all connected by a central open corridor that quickly became congested with local villagers within minutes of our arrival.

Fascinating and heartbreaking stories surfaced in every room and we did all we could to ease their pain and lift their spirits. And, as usual, we found that the people we served lifted ours as well.

Just four weeks ago, 21 year old Yaneth suffered third degree burns over her arms and back from an electrical fire that burned her house to the ground in minutes. Amazingly, she had received no treatment at the time. Dr. Channy provided her with Opsite dressings, saline and other cleansing products as well as antibiotics and Polysporin.

Dr. Tony visited with 4 year old Genesis who's lighter hair colour, empty, lifeless eyes and listless behaviour indicated malnutrition. After a trip to the Pharmacy, the family was taken directly to Distribution to receive food supplies. And so it continued...

The Dental unit is always busy with long line-ups throughout the day... and for good reason. The drink of choice of every village family is pop - it's the cheapest drinkable fluid available. To make matters worse, most can't afford toothpaste. Kids drink Coke and orange pop from morning to night. The majority of children have rotted teeth by the age of six. It's a heartbreaking tragedy that recurs with every generation - and there's no end in sight.

Our team of four dentists and their dental assistants leave the hotel an hour earlier than the others as their sophisticated portable equipment requires an hour of set-up time. They're up and running by the time the rest of the team arrives - and they don't stop until they've seen every patient. Their "nobody goes without care" commitment means they don't stop for lunch and they don't take breaks, working right through until everyone's been seen.

There are five chairs for four dentists yet that fifth chair is always occupied. Dentist, Dr. Jack, a veteran of FTC Central American Medical-Dental Teams, says, "Local anesthetic takes time to work, so we minimize downtime by jumping to another patient while we wait. It's all about efficiency - we owe it to these people to really deliver on our primary care promise."

Dr. Mark confirmed that fillings, extractions and root canals are the most common procedures performed. And these dentists are fast and efficient while not compromising the quality of care. Fillings and extractions are performed in minutes while root canals take longer. Today, at San Agustin, the Dental unit treated over 100 patients. One of them was 17 year-old Luis, who had never been to a dentist in his life.

Luis top front teeth had decayed to the point that he was embarrassed and self-conscious. Dr. Mark weaved his magic and, in no time, Luis had new white fillings and a million dollar smile.

Meanwhile, Dr. Domenic, our root canal specialist blew a bulb in his overhead light and had to resort to a headlamp but still didn't miss a beat. Dr. Mimi, a local dentist, worked quietly in her corner seeing patient after patient all day long. Critical support from dental assistants, Odalmis, Iris, Melissa and Michelle (two of whom speak Spanish) mean patients receive care quickly and efficiently. This team really performs.

Here is one final story that effectively sums up the quality and character of this critical unit. A young girl was in the chair, ready for several fillings. On the surface, she looked comfortable and unafraid, but Dr. Jack could see in her eyes that she was nervous and needed a little reassurance.

Dr. Jack grabbed a cotton swab and reached for the topical anesthetic which is used to numb the gums. Instead of proceeding, he put the swab in the young patient's hand, had her dip it in the topical anesthetic, gently took her hand in his and, together, they applied it to the appropriate areas. Engaging the patient and having her play a role in the procedure put her at ease and built trust between two people who had never met and won't likely meet again.

We've provided care to over 2,500 patients in three days. As often happens in high-stress situations, we've really bonded as a team. Dinners have been a great release after the pressure of a chaotic clinic. There's lots of storytelling and lots of laughter. We've got the day off tomorrow to recharge and prepare for our final two clinics including our Saturday visit to Somalia, the massive slum in the middle of downtown San Salvador. May we do some good there too.

A BETTER TOMORROW AND A STRUGGLE TO PERSEVERE

2010-02-17T17:52:00.001-05:00

Dr. Steve Russell is in El Salvador now with an FTC Canada Medical-Dental team providing primary medical care to desperately needy families in and around the capital city of San Salvador.

In this contribution to his hometown paper, Dr. Steve provides details of the teams efforts to lend a helping hand. His account details care provided to families in a flood ravaged region of the country.

CLICK HERE to read the story at durhamregion.com

FEMININE DIGNITY KITS HAVE AN ADVOCATE

2010-02-17T16:30:00.002-05:00

Vancouver speaker and author Grace Fox is helping to promote what she describes as an "innovative project".

Grace Fox is promoting the Feminine Dignity Kit (FDK) at her speaking engagements in North America.

Speaking directly to the plight of women around the world, Grace seeks to provide listeners with resources so they can explore ways to get involved. This is a very practical way to make a difference.

An FDK means a girl can attend school because they have the following:

~ feminine hygenine supplies

~ soap

~ toothpaste and toothbrush

~ combs

~ hair picks

The FDK is wrapped with a beautiful scarf and shipped in a box

Some young girls in Africa and Central America can miss almost 25% of a school year because they can't afford proper hygiene products. For just $9 anyone can help a young girl complete high school!

Grace has a passion is to help women become daring in their faith, deep in their convictions, and devoted in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Grace uses the written page and the public stage to build Christ-based confidence in audiences worldwide.

Please visit www.ftccanada.ca/fdk to learn more and visit www.gracefox.com to see where Grace will be speaking.

EL SALVADOR - DAY 4: FLOOD-TORN JOYA GRANDE

2010-02-17T00:22:00.035-05:00

Today we headed inland to the shores of Lake Ilopango and a village named Joya Grande (translation: large jewel).

After an hour on the road we entered an isolated area, driving down a mountainside on a twisting, dusty road bordered by 40 foot walls of mud. As we arrived at the local school, the site of our clinic, it was clear that things were not quite right in this part of the world.

Just three months earlier, this entire area was submerged. In November, heavy rains drove a wall of water down the mountain with such force that it uprooted huge trees, obliterated homes and washed away entire villages leaving devastation in its wake. After the flood waters receded, the school became an emergency centre for families who had lost everything. Many of those same families returned today to see a doctor or a dentist and receive medications, clothes, shoes and food from the FTC Canada team.

Now, over three months after the crippling flood, many are still living in tents and what was once a "hard life" has turned to desperate survival. We heard many stories of loss from patients and we also learned that we are the first medical team to visit them since the disaster. Needless to say, our work today, amid the debris and destruction had special meaning for us.

The Medical team has been hard at work all week and have really made a difference in the lives of the people they've seen. But a few cases really stick out for a variety of reasons and ought to be recounted.

Yesterday, Dr. Mike Gilmour saw a 29 year old woman who was dehydrated and suffering from a worsening kidney infection. She is also five months pregnant. While sitting in front of Mike and his interpreter, she vomited and was clearly feeling faint. The kidney infection was one thing, but it was her dehydration that had put her unborn child in grave danger.

Acting quickly, Mike administered IV fluids hanging the bag on a nail sticking out of the classroom's blackboard. In time she rebounded and was feeling more alert and comfortable. Medication to treat the kidney infection and other prescriptions to help her through the rest of her pregnancy were also provided.

This was serious situation and without the support of Mike and the Medical Team, she could have lost the baby. He said: "Back home in Canada, this patient would have been airlifted to a hospital for immediate treatment. Luckily, we were in the right place at the right time."

This morning, Dr. Channy Muhn met Antonia, an 88 year old woman with a massive Basal cell cancer tumour on her face. Channy, an accomplished dermatologist, removed the tumour under local anesthetic in a makeshift operating room at the back of the Pharmacy. Once healed, Antonia will look like herself again. Needless to say, she was both happy and grateful.

Francisca, a 32 year old woman, showed the signs of a rare skin condition that can best be described as an allergy to the sun. Paramedic Glen Canavan, who has been on all five FTC Central American Medical/Dental missions and also volunteered for the recent Haiti trip, consulted with Channy, who confirmed that the white spots on her arms were caused by Actinitis Dermatitis.

This is clearly not an ideal situation for someone living in the interior of scorching hot El Salvador. The team provided medication and education to Francisca arming her with all she needs to keep the condition in check.

Dr. Elizabeth Russell removed two large moles from the face of another patient and expertly sutured up the sites leaving the cleanest of scars. This patient wasn't sick, but had lived with these large growths on her face for her entire life. Dr. Russell was able to change that. It's not always just about simply making patients feel better. Once in a while, it's about making patients feel better about themselves.

Tomorrow we're off to Verapaz, another area that was hit hard by the November floods and landslides. Another long and gruelling day is ahead of us, but the tea is really excited about the difference we are making in the lives of those who have so little. Everyone is growing and changing through this experience - it's hard to describe but it feels good nonetheless.

EVENT: FTC CANADA 2nd ANNUAL BLUE & WHITE GALA

2010-02-16T13:38:00.001-05:00

You are invited to join us at the 2nd Annual Blue & White Gala March 7, 2010.

We have watched a one medical team return from Haiti and another depart for El Salvador. In the midst of this activity we are preparing for a special gala evening.

Please join us as we celebrate 5 years of helping children. CLICK HERE to go to the Blue & White ticket page at www.ftccanada.ca.

EL SALVADOR - DAY THREE: A NEW FTC RECORD!

2010-02-15T23:49:00.019-05:00

Where to begin? Today's clinic in the impoverished village of Melara was FTC Canada's biggest and most successful ever. Our team saw 1,164 patients including 115 dental cases that included fillings, extractions, root canals and treating infections. But the numbers can't begin to describe the day and all that went on - so let's back up and start from the beginning.

The dental team left the hotel at 6:30 am to allow enough time to set up the equivalent of a sophisticated five-chair office in a cramped classroom at Melara. The rest of us followed at 7:30 hoping for a great turnout and a great day. We needn't have worried. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a line-up of 250 people waiting to register. So Registration is where this story begins.

While the team is setting up the Medical and Dental stations, the Pharmacy and Distribution (shoes, clothes food and toys), locals from miles around converge on the Registration desk. This is not unlike the Registration desk at your local hospital or doctor's office - except that in Melara, it's a simple table in an open-air courtyard complete with roaming dogs and chickens.

From Registration, the villagers make their way to another line-up, either at the Dental station or the Medical area. A history is taken, a physical exam is conducted followed by diagnosis and treatment. Then the patient joins another line-up at the Pharmacy where their prescriptions are filled and instructions on proper use provided. If there's time enough between these stop, people can gather food, supplies and toys at Distribution, which includes access to several hundred pairs of Crocs!

Managing over 1,000 patients in one day through several departments can be described as organized chaos - but it's really, really well organized chaos. The system and processes are constantly streamlined to optimize efficiencies. In reality, it's a well-oiled machine that owes its success to the people who run it.

The Pharmacy is a good example. Here, the work begins early and ends late. Countless bins of drugs are carted in from the truck and strategically positioned around the perimeter of the room. Everything is measured and bagged with detailed instructions in Spanish. When patients present their prescriptions, teams of "pickers and packers" move from bin to bin selecting the appropriate medications and information. When the prescriptions are filled, the patient receives one package with everything in it, followed by quick but thorough instructions from the Pharmacy staff. Behind the scenes, team members continue counting pills and bagging medications throughout the day. It's fast-paced and doesn't end until the very last patient checks out of the Pharmacy, medications in hand.

A few final observations. Most of the El Salvadorans we saw today feed there families on less than $4 a day and have never seen a doctor. Their lives are hard and filled with uncertainty. Yet, all we saw was warmth, patience, pride, dignity and a spirit that serves as an example to us all. They are a beautiful people who, in these toughest of circumstances, simply smile. And I mean really smile.

The smiles helped 30 volunteers make it through an exhausting but rewarding day. And they also helped us rediscover something that's easy to lose in the hustle and bustle of our lives in Canada - perspective. These people are warm, strong, family-focused and, yes, happy. We should all be so lucky.

And we do it all again tomorrow...

EL SALVADOR ~ DAY TWO: THE CHILDREN OF REMAR

2010-02-15T00:33:00.015-05:00

Today was a good day - a really good day. Some of us spent the morning counting more vitamins to be distributed to families at our clinics throughout the week. The rest took stock of the other medicines, equipment, food and supplies currently filling our storage room.

Monday's clinic is approaching fast and thorough prep work is key to a quick set-up once we're on-site. Mornings like this also help the team get to know each other better and bond before the high pressure of the coming clinic days. This group is already close, working hard and having fun together - it looks like it'll be a good week.

But it was the afternoon, not the morning, that gave us our most powerful reminder yet of why we're here. You wouldn't often use the words "uplifting" and "orphanage" in the same sentence ... unless you've visited Remar.

Remar is home to 65 boys and girls ranging in age from 2 to 18. Some were placed there after being removed from abusive homes. Others were abandoned. Now their family is each other and, remarkably, this family seems happy, engaged and adjusted to life at Remar. Ironically, these kids were smiling and seemed happy and confident, they ran into our arms and didn't let go as we stepped off the bus. They hugged us, held our hands, chattered away to us constantly and seemed most excited just to have us there, with them, even for such a short time.

Glen, a veteran paramedic from Halton Region, was charmed by a quiet three-year-old named, Carmen. She didn't say a word for our entire visit, yet she captivated Glen and the entire team. Her story remains unknown to us, but in the space of an hour, she stole our hearts, especially Glen's. But she wasn't the only one. A group of six to eight young boys ran right past us as we arrived, magnetically drawn to our police escort vehicle and the four uniformed officers inside. Boys will be boys. Before we knew it, they were in the back of the police pick-up checking out the equipment and peppering the always cooperative officers with questions. These guards were there to protect our team, but found themselves as taken with the young residents as the rest of us. Kids can do that.

It was tough to get back on the bus and head home to San Salvador. But we left a significant supply of food, medicines, vitamins, clothes and toys to last long after we've flown back to Canada. Our plan was to give to the children of Remar - our time, our hugs, our support - but in the end, it was the gift they gave to us that we'll never forget. Our hearts are just a bit bigger tonight thanks to them.

Today was a really good day - here's to a few more in the week ahead.

LANDED! WE ARE FINALLY HERE!

2010-02-13T23:05:00.032-05:00

The FTC Canada medical-dental team arrived at Pearson Airport around 7:00 am this morning. For the veterans, it was a time to reconnect with friends they hadn't seen since the last trip. The first timers nervously fidgeted, wondering what they'd gotten themselves into as the reality of what we were all about to do truly began to sink in.

Over the course of the next week, we'll conduct five 1-day medical clinics in the impoverished communities in and around San Salvador. We'll provide on-the-ground medical and dental care to thousands of El Salvadorans, many of whom have never seen a doctor. We'll set-up the clinic in the morning and tear it down again at dark. And then, we'll do it all over again the next day in a different village, for different people facing the same life challenges.

This is a group of incredibly committed doctors, dentists, dental assistants, paramedics, nurses and pharmacists, ably supported by several "non-medical" volunteers who will toil behind the scenes. Our team of 30 was met today at the San Salvador airport by local FTC staff who have been hard at work for months planning, hauling equipment and supplies and engaging the communities we'll visit. They will also be our translators as we interact with hundreds of Spanish-speaking patients every day. All in all, we'll number nearly 50 as we start the week.

Our trip is particularly timely as many of the areas we'll visit were devastated by heavy rains, floods and landslides in November. Entire villages, homes, bridges and lives were washed away leaving little behind but mud and debris. We'll provide care for families who have lost everything.

Tomorrow, we'll visit Remar, an orphanage near the coast and the site of a memorable clinic during the last trip. Strong bonds were forged there and our returning team members are especially excited to see the children they met last April. Vitamins, toothbrushes and toothpaste, antiparasitic medications, clothes and toys will be distributed at this location.

The real work begins the following day as we travel an hour outside the city to conduct our first clinic. The team is energized, excited and ready for an exhausting, an emotional and, if all goes well, a profoundly rewarding experience. We will do our best to share it all with you through daily posts here.

But right now, there are 60,000 vitamins stored in the bathtub of a hotel room downstairs just waiting to be counted into bags of 30! And so it begins....

Tim Fallis

Tim Fallis is a "first timer" as noted and was invited to join the team by FTC Canada President Ken Dick. Tim is part of the support team and will also be updating the FTC Canada blog from El Salvador including posting his own photos. Tim is the President of Black Rock Marketing Group in Toronto.

HAITI TO EL SALVADOR

2010-02-13T16:27:00.004-05:00

It’s not easy to change gears. Another FTC team of medical and dental professionals is heading for El Salvador. Some of our team, including Dr. Tony Brown, Dr. Paul Puckrin, and a couple of paramedics just accompanied me to Haiti exactly one week after a 7.0 earthquake struck Port-au-Prince. Now these Haiti responders are heading out yet again to offer primary care to children and families in Central America. We simply can not forget that even in times of disasters the medical and dental needs for children continue in other needy countries.

This is the fifth trip to Central America for our team, the second in a row to El Salvador. Dr. Tony and I went to El Salvador in December to scout out communities that would benefit from our support. What we found were several communities that had been tragically affected by the November 2009 floods and landslides. The unfortunate outcome of those mini-disasters was many deaths and the loss of numerous homes. It’s to these communities we will be taking medical and dental treatment; dispensing medicines and food and clothing.

In comparing this team with previous missions, it turns out to be the largest we have organized. Thirty (30) of us will depart from Toronto on Saturday February 13 to the capital city of San Salvador. Six of the team are making this journey for the first time. Our expertise base has expanded significantly with the addition of specialists in skin diseases and a dentist who will perform root canals.

I would encourage you to watch the blog over the next week as we report from El Salvador. We plan to post daily reports on our activities and provide a look into our day through the lens of team member Tim Fallis.

Our team members all agree that what we accomplish in El Salvador during this coming week is only possible through the support of caring partners like you. Thank you for your prayers and for your financial support.

On behalf of the entire team,
Ken Dick, President

PUSHED TO CONTINUE WORK IN HAITI

2010-02-05T13:51:00.002-05:00

The Scugog Standard reporter Blake Wolfe speaks with the two local Port Perry doctors in this article, following their medical relief trip to Haiti.

Dr. Anthony Brown, FTC Medical Advisor, speaks candidly of sleepless nights and vivid dreams of never ending patient line-ups. Despite this, those who went to Haiti are compelled to continue the work (Dr. Paul Puckrin in photo left).

CLICK HERE to read the article.

CLICK HERE to read a post from Rik Davie of The Scugog Standard

ORGANIZED CHAOS IN HAITI

2010-02-03T15:25:00.004-05:00

Chris Hall, a writer for durhamregion.com speaks with Dr. Anthony Brown (FTC Canada Medical Advisor) about his recent experience in Haiti.

Dr. Brown traveled with a team to Haiti shortly after a 7.0 earthquake rocked Port-au-Prince. Dr. Brown was joined by 2 other doctors, 11 paramedics and two support staff in a trip arranged by FTC Canada.

It is clear that the experience left an indelible mark on everyone involved in the relief effort.

CLICK HERE to read this incredible story

CLICK HERE to read another story in Port Perry Star

PORT PERRY 2/5K WALK-RUN RAISES $7500 FOR HAITI RELIEF

2010-02-01T13:41:00.005-05:00

Updated Feb 3, 2010
A special FUNd run (JAN 30), organized by local Port Perry, ON residents has helped raise $7,500 for relief efforts in Haiti. The funds will be directed to earthquake relief projects by FTC Canada through its partner agencies near Port-au-Prince.

Race organizer, Angela Connolly has long been following the efforts of local "port" doctors in Haiti and the medical-dental teams to Central America organized by FTC Canada. This local connection runs deep as the FTC Canada Medical Advisor is Dr. Anthony Brown, a resident of Port Perry.

In fact, FTC Canada Medical Teams to Central America, since 2007, have been largely composed of medical professionals from the Port Perry and Oshawa area. This includes doctors, nurses and a pharmacist.

Dr. Brown, and Dr. Paul Puckrin, also from Port Perry, just returned from an FTC medical trip to Haiti last week just seven days after the 7.0 quake devastated the country.

Dr. Brown, an avid marathoner, was driving to the FTC Canada Head Office on Saturday preparing a medical team for El Salvador but dropped in for the start of the event.

"We showed up at the start of the race," says Brown, "and learned that 11 year old, William Leeder (shown in photo with Dr. Brown) had raised $1000 all on his own!"

"It was a great success." adds Brown.

CLICK HERE to read about the event in durhamregion.com

DOCTORS RETURN HOME FROM HAITI

2010-02-01T11:51:00.003-05:00

Updated Feb 3, 2010

FTC Canada Medical Advisor, Dr. Anthony Brown and co-worker Dr. Paul Puckrin are featured in this brief article as they return from Haiti.

The other link will take you to a story and additional videos posted at YouTube. The link below features the Halton paramedics and FTC Canada President, Ken Dick.

CLICK HERE to read article featuring the doctors

CLICK HERE to see YouTube video

STORIES FROM FIRST TEAM TO HAITI COMING IN

2010-02-01T11:45:00.001-05:00

Updated Feb3, 2010

The Hamilton Spectator talked with paramedics that returned from the "war zone" of Haiti. The paramedics were from Halton and one was from Brampton.

The story recounts the conditions on the ground and the heartwrenching work that had to be done just to save lives.

CLICK HERE to read the story

FTC CANADA SENDS TEAM OF FOUR TO HAITI

2010-02-01T11:37:00.000-05:00

FTC Canada made arrangments on Jan 30, 2010 for another team of four to go to Haiti.

The team includes two nurses and one paramedic along with one support staff.

Plans were made for the team to board a Canadian Air Force flight out of Trenton, ON first thing Saturday morning.

The group has arrived safely in Haiti and will stay with FTC Canada's partner agency, Mission of Hope. The medical personal will go immediately to work supporting other medical teams already at work in the region.

AQUADECO & UNISYNC DONATE TO HAITI RELIEF

2010-01-29T11:12:00.001-05:00

January 28, 2010

Aquadeco Natural Spring Water and Unisync Group donate to Haiti relief.

As a part of FTC Canada’s Haiti relief efforts, Aquadeco Natural Spring Water has generously donated over 65,000 bottles of water and Unisync Group has donated 12 skids of clothing to the children and families devastated by the recent earthquake.

Cliff Cline, COO says “There is an immediate and ongoing need for water and clothing in Haiti and we are extremely thankful to have a partners like Aquadeco and Unisync Group supporting our ongoing relief efforts.”

FTC Canada's emergency medical team returned home on January 27th after 7 days in Port-au-Prince. FTC is now procuring supplies to send over on containers to Haiti. Shipments are scheduled to leave next month.

NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH ORTHOTIC BUSINESSES TO HELP HAITI

2010-01-29T11:01:00.004-05:00

January 28, 2010

The devastation in Haiti has impacted all of us in many different ways. The professionals at Milton Orthotic and Wellness Centre, in conjunction with Burlington Orthotic Centre and Mississauga Orthotic Centre have come together with FTC Canada to start a gently used shoe and bracing drive. Please bring your gently used footwear or bracing supplies to either of the three clinics and FTC Canada will ensure they reach needy Haitians in the coming months.

www.miltonorthoticwellness.com 905-864-0555
www.burlingtonorthotics.com 905-331-4391
Mississauga Orthotic Centre: 905-696-8244

2K/5K FUNd RUN FOR HAITI

2010-01-26T14:43:00.004-05:00

Port Perry, ON

Church of the Ascension, Port Perry, along with local residents, are joining together on Sat. Jan. 30 for a “FUNd Run For Haiti”, a two or five kilometer "run, walk or crawl" to raise funds for FTC Canada’s Haiti Earthquake Relief.

FTC Canada, a relief and development organization active in Haiti prior to the devastating earthquake, is present there now distributing emergency rations, shelter and providing medical care.

Two local Port Perry doctors, along with 11 paramedics, arrived in Haiti on January 20th. Dr. Tony Brown, Medical Advisor for FTC Canada, and Dr. Paul Puckrin, have joined the agency’s team on the ground to help deliver medical care at a hospital in the heart of Port-au-Prince.

”We knew that we wanted to do something for the people of Haiti. A “FUNd Run” felt like a positive and practical way to raise some much needed money for their cause. It's easy to feel helpless watching all the news footage, but we can use our communal strength to work together and show our support. It's so great to know that through this FUNd run our community will be helping the people of Haiti and supporting the work of FTC and our local Doctors who are there right now,” says Angela Connolly, one of the run organizers.

Organizers encourage all to participate. “The course can be completed by running, walking, with strollers and pets or even cross-country skiing. Bring your family. Bring your grandparents. Just get involved,” stresses Connolly. To enter the run organizers are accepting pledge sheet and credit card donations, both of which can be found on the website www.portperryrun.ca

The run begins at 10:00 am at Community Living Durham North in Port Perry, Ontario (16025 Old Simcoe Road, corner of Reach and Old Simcoe) Registration is open after 9am. Food and beverages will be available for a donation.

To register visit www.portperryrun.ca

AMJ CAMPBELL PARTNERS WITH FTC CANADA

2010-01-26T13:46:00.002-05:00

January 26, 2010 - Guelph, Ontario

AMJ Campbell becomes official mover of Guelph based not for profit FTC Canada.

Canada’s largest moving company AMJ Campbell is partnering with international and domestic relief organization FTC Canada, as the official mover of donated food and supplies for the organization.

FTC Canada operates a 25,000 sq. ft. warehouse where donations of food and supplies are procured and distributed across Canada to children and families through front line inner city agencies. As well, the organization sends containers to Feed The Children run feeding programs in Africa and Central America. In 2009, FTC Canada procured and distributed $11.8 million in food and supplies around the world.

In order for these donations to be procured and distributed FTC Canada raises funds to cover the costs of transportation. To help address the organizations needs, AMJ will be moving donations at a discounted price as well as donating back 5% of what FTC Canada spends with the company.

We are thankful to have a well respected and successful company like AMJ Campbell partnering with us” says Cliff Cline, Chief Operating Officer of FTC Canada. “We are passionate about re-purposing our donations to those in need, and handling everything with logistical excellence is a non-negotiable. AMJ is a strong partner in helping us stem hunger! ”.

Denis Cordick, VP of Marketing for AMJ Campbell, “AMJ is about providing people with piece of mind and we are proud to be able to guarantee that to FTC Canada as they work to really help children and families across the country in need.”

AMJ Campbell Website

A SINCERE THANK YOU

2010-01-26T09:49:00.003-05:00

A letter to the editor posted at the newsdurhamregion.com website (Jan 25, 2010) extends a word of thanks to the medical personnel that made the trip to Haiti.

CLICK HERE to read the letter

NOTE: Updates have been added to other posts. Look for "Updated + Date" at the top of a post to see if any changes have been made.

TEAM LEAVING HAITI TODAY

2010-01-26T09:25:00.005-05:00

Updated Jan 26, 2010
The doctors and paramedics from FTC Canada are on-board a Canadian Air Force Hercules from Haiti today, to make the return trip to Canada.

The flight is expected to arrive at Pierre Trudeau Airport between 5:00 and 8:00 pm this evening (Jan 26).

The team is wrapping up a short but highly effective emergency medical trip that took them right into the midst of the earthquake aftermath.

Medical teams continue to arrive in Haiti two weeks after a 7.0 magnitude quake devastated Haiti. The outpouring of aid continues from around the globe.

HALTON PARAMEDICS ON FACEBOOK

2010-01-25T12:18:00.005-05:00

Updated Jan 26, 2010
There is a public facebook page for the Halton Paramedics in Haiti. Be sure to check it out as there are about 70 photos to look through including shots of the team and the city of Port-au-Prince.

Dr. Cheryl van der Mark from Mission of Hope is featured in The Hamilton Spectator

CLICK HERE to read article

CLICK HERE to read an article about Laurens van der Mark, Mission of Hope, Haiti

APOTEX DONATES PHARMACEUTICALS TO FTC CANADA'S HAITI RELIEF

2010-01-22T11:14:00.006-05:00

January 21, 2010

In support of FTC Canada’s Haiti relief efforts, Apotex Inc. generously donated thousands of antibiotics and analgesics which flew on board with our emergency response medical team.

FTC Canada was one of three relief organizations who received help in the form of medicines from Apotex. The Canadian-owned pharmaceutical company donated close to $2 million dollars worth of their products which will help save lives.

"Our employees and management wanted to help, and it was the right thing to do. We have a tradition of providing assistance around the globe when disasters occur." stated Mr. Jack Kay, President & COO of Apotex Inc.

FTC Canada’s emergency response medical team arrived in Port-au-Prince on January 20^th and have already begun working in the heart of the city. FTC will continue to make efforts to get supplies and funds to Haiti in the days and weeks to come.

HAITI IN RECOVERY

2010-01-22T08:59:00.004-05:00

Updated Jan 26, 2010
Doctors and paramedics from Ontario continue in recovery efforts at Haiti's largest hospital . CTV's Paul Workman spoke to Dr. Paul Puckrin in the "garden" yesterday, because the hospital simply isn't big enough and the needs of injured Haitians simply overwhelming.

This segment aired on CTV National News and it is graphic in nature. However, the plight of those with limbs crushed by falling buildings is simply a reality and will be seen all over the area affected by the earthquake.

The Canadian team members conducting pre-op and post-op are apparently part of a process that is on either end of medivac flights to the deck of a U.S. Navy hospital off the coast of Haiti (See this CNN Report to learn more).

The other video segment from Haiti is journalist Paul Workman on Canada AM (Jan 22, 2010). He is seeing and experiencing much of what our team will experience so it might prove helpful for those of you wondering "what it's like".

CLICK HERE to view the video with Paul Workman interviewing Dr. Paul Puckrin

CLICK HERE to see CTV's Paul Workman reflecting on Haiti, not long after meeting the team from Ontario

CLICK HERE to listen to FTC Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Brown on CBC Radio

TEAM FROM ONTARIO BRINGS EMERGENCY CARE

2010-01-21T19:13:00.009-05:00

Updated Jan 22, 2010
As news comes out of Haiti it can leave a person with feelings of both hope and despair. New aid has trickled through a badly damaged port and plans for a makeshift airstrip are unfolding in Jacmel.

Unfortunately many medical teams are experiencing frustration as they run short of the type of aid that would help them most. Today, however, more medical professionals arrived from FTC Canada and that was extremely good news for others working feverishly on the ground.

Our doctors and paramedics were working shoulder to shoulder with medical personnel from all over the globe. And together they were seeing people who not had any medical aid and were desperately in need of care.

Part of "Team Canada" was doing pre-op and post surgical care while others worked with paramedic Grant Rumford to transport patients via ambulance to places where they could get proper treatment.

Grant is the paramedic from Halton Region that is stationed, along with his family for the next year at the Mission of Hope, FTC Canada's base camp in Haiti.

At least two aftershocks were felt west of Port-au-Prince but the team did not indicate that these affected their efforts in the nations capital.

CLICK HERE to read the Guelph Tribune story on the departure of the FTC Canada Medical Team to Haiti
CLICK HERE for photo gallery from Guelph Tribune

FTC CANADA REACHES OUT TO TRUCKERS TO HELP HAITI'S RECOVERY

2010-01-21T12:58:00.002-05:00

FTC Canada has put out a request to the trucking industry in their mission to provide food and medication to Haiti.

FTC relies on the trucking industry to move food all over Canada but the challenge here is very specific.

“We’re trying to launch in the trucking community an initiative to get supplies, food and goods in order to ship the containers in the next couple of weeks,” Ryan Fletcher, the Canadian representative for FTCC said. “It will take awhile to get there, but obviously the earthquake will have an effect for years.”

CLICK HERE to read the full article in Today's Trucking

FTC MEDICAL TEAM DEPLOYS INTO PORT-AU-PRINCE

2010-01-21T10:57:00.009-05:00

Updated Jan 21, 2010
The FTC Canada team of doctors and paramedics have been deployed into the city of Port-au-Prince. They have traveled as a team to a hospital in the heart of the quake ravaged city. Grant Rumford reported to CTV that they would be most likely be "embedded" in Carrefour, the epicentre of the 7.0 earthquake.

Remarkably, survivors are still being pulled alive from the rubble. Victims of the quake are reportedly desperate for medical care which can not come soon enough.

We are hopeful that our team will bring a sense of hope and relief to emergency personal already weary from endless days of working with survivors.

We expect more news to come from Medical Team Advisor, Dr. Anthony Brown later today or this evening.

CTV's Canada AM continues to check in with paramedic Grant Rumford from his location near Port-au-Prince. The Mission of Hope site is FTC Canada's base camp while in Haiti.

CLICK HERE to see the video

Durham region reports on help to Haiti including work of FTC Medical Advisor, Dr. Brown

CLICK HERE to read story

CTV reports on the teams arrival in Haiti and interview paramedic Grant Rumford

CLICK HERE to see video (Mac users with Flip4Mac may still experience problems viewing)

NOTHING HAS PREPARED THEM

2010-01-20T15:50:00.004-05:00

Arriving just after yet another earthquake, a strong magnitude 6.1 aftershock, the FTC Canada medical team is safe and sound in Haiti.

As the article from the Hamilton Spectator below points out, nothing has prepared this group for the devastation they will find in Haiti.

The team is preparing to deploy alongside other doctors and emergency personnel from the U.S. and Mission of Hope. Some teams will head towards Port-au-Prince to strengthen the life-saving and sustaining efforts at specific locations.

CLICK HERE to read about the team leaving Guelph including the names of those on the team

CTV News reports on the departure of the flight from Montreal
CLICK HERE to read the story or CLICK HERE to see video