I hear from a variety of sources that Thunder Bay is not such a good place; “the murder capital of Canada, shoplifting is rampant, homelessness, addiction-driven crime” and on and on. Here is a story that proves Thunder Bay is a good place to live.

MEMO, Thunder Bay’s own humanitarian organization recycles used but still useful hospital equipment and medical supplies to needy countries. We recently received a call from the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. They are taking 60 older but still functional beds out of service and would MEMO want them? Yes, we did as patients in some of the hospitals we serve in Zimbabwe and Cuba have to sleep on the floor! The new smart beds have many features useful to nurses and which enhance patient care. If not donated, these beds would end up in scrapyard or landfill.

MEMO receives donations of redundant medical supplies from hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and increasingly from home care. Supplies and equipment waiting for shipping are stored in four highway trailers parked on leased land at the site of the closed Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital. Our only problem was storing the beds until shipping season begins in the spring as our trailers are almost full. Time was of the essence as the Regional Hospital was receiving  new beds on January 5th. A friend of MEMO’s suggested that Keefer Terminal operated by the Port of Thunder Bay be approached. Senior management was contacted and after a quick meeting, bless their hearts, approved the space needed to store the beds free of charge.

On January 6th forty very comfortable hospital beds were taken from TBRHSC by a donated Erb transport to Keefer Terminal. These beds weigh about 400 lbs each and presented quite a task for the six senior MEMO volunteers.

Think of it: Thunder Bay Regional Hospital went to the bother of offering the beds to MEMO rather than simply calling a trucker to take them to the scrapyard.

Erb Transport provided a highway transport/trailer unit with a volunteer driver to move them.

The Port of Thunder Bay administration generously and speedily provided valuable storage space for 4 months free of charge.

Six retired Thunder Bay men spent most of the day lifting, pulling, and pushing heavy beds into a compact storage space.

All this makes me realize that Thunder Bay is not such a bad place to live, and after 75 years living here, I am thankful for Thunder Bay and its wonderful people.

MEMO receives no government or corporate financial support. The cost of shipping these beds to destitute Zimbabwe hospitals is $30,000. If you would like to be part of this amazing story go to our website at memoministry.org to learn more and to donate.

Thanks Thunder Bay!