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(Sept. 8, 2005 Modesto, CA)  Emmanuel Medical Center (EMC) in Turlock donated a 37-foot Winnebago mobile home that will be driven to Hattiesburg, MS, to provide medical care for victims of Hurricane Katrina.  The equity value of the mobile home is $70,000.  The 2002 Winnebago is not a typical motor home in that it was designed as a “health care center on wheels”, complete with patient exam rooms and storage space for medical equipment and supplies.  It will be stocked with medical supplies and three Modesto Sunrise Rotary members are scheduled to drive it to its destination on Sept. 14.

“In light of how tragic the situation is in the Gulf area, we decided to donate the motor coach to Rotary District 5220,” John Sigsbury, Emanuel’s CEO said.  “Creating a healthy community is our mission.  The Rotarians’ effort is in keeping with our mission.”

Contact was established with a Rotary Club in Hattiesburg, a city with a population of nearly 50,000 and about 90 minutes away from New Orleans.  The Rotary Club there will work jointly with local clubs to provide medical care.

About six weeks ago Mike Keckler received a call from an EMC employee inquiring if he might know of an organization that might have need for the motor home.  Keckler began researching possible locations and making calls.  Then Hurricane Katrina hit, and he thought of using the vehicle in the impacted area.

Initially Rotarians in the district raised funds to purchase the motor coach.  Those funds will now be used for operating costs of the mobile medical clinic, such as replenishing medical supplies, and to help victims, such as a child who may need surgery.

“The support has been overwhelming,” said Keckler a member of the Modesto Rotary Club.  Keckler is president of a medical equipment company and has traveled extensively on medical missions with World Vision and Rotary.

 

Keckler teamed up with David Gallagher, a Modesto optometrist and Modesto Sunrise Rotary member, who has also traveled the world on medical missions.  Gallagher has been working on the logistics of getting the Winnebago from Modesto to the disaster area.

Both Keckler and Gallagher have literally spent hours on the phone making arrangements.  Gallagher was thrilled when arrangements were confirmed.

“We will be able to provide much needed medical services to the victims,” he said.  “We are most appreciative of Emanuel’s generosity and that of our fellow Rotarians and community members.”

Once it completes its mission in Mississippi, the mobile clinic will continue providing medical care in the Appalachians in West Virginia under the auspices of World Vision, a non-profit organization.

Among the clubs in District 5220 that donated to this effort are the Rotary clubs of Modesto, Escalon, Modesto East, Modesto Sunrise, Oakdale, Salida and many throughout the Central Valley.  Rotary District 5220 includes 55 clubs from Galt to Oakhurst, and from Tracy to the Sonora area.

Rotary clubs are non-profit organizations and are part of Rotary International, the largest global service organization with approximately 1.2 million members of more than 31,000 Rotary clubs in 166 countries.  Founded in 1905, Rotary is made up of business and professional leaders who work to better their community and build understanding and peace in the world. Rotary is a non-political, non-religious humanitarian organization.

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