Not Just Tourists

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Not Just Tourists
Not Just Tourists logo.png
Formation1990
HeadquartersSt Catherines
Key people
Ken Taylor and Denise Taylor
Websitehttps://njt.net/

Not Just Tourists is a volunteer-led grassroots organization headquartered in Canada. Not Just Tourists collects surplus healthcare supplies in Canada, USA, and UK and sends them overseas as donations with tourists visiting low income countries.[1][2][3]

Not Just Tourists has chapters in Ottawa, Niagara, Waterloo, Barrie, Calgary, Manitoba, London (Ontario), London (UK) and Halifax.[3]

History[]

Not Just Tourists was founded in 1990 in St. Catharines by Ken Taylor M.D. and his wife Denise, who took medical supplies to Cuba.[3][4]

The Toronto chapter was started in 2015 by a Avi D’Souza. The group of volunteers meet on a weekly basis at Roncesvalles United Church to pack suitcases.[1][5][6][7]

In 2017, Drew Cumpson started the Kingston chapter,[8] nurse Simone Feller opened the Halifax chapter,[9] and the first UK chapter was launched by Claudia Hon M.D. in London.[10][11]

Cindy Ross M.D. started the Orange Beach chapter in 2021, the first US chapter.[2]

In 2020, the Manitoba chapter sent personal protective equipment to China.[12]

In 2021, two volunteers privately arranged several shipping containers of medical supplies to be sent to Cuba.[13]

Activities[]

Surplus medical supplies are donated by hospitals, clinics, medical suppliers, and individuals. Donated supplied usually include gauze, bandages, surgical instruments, masks, gloves, antiseptics, intravenous kits, urinary supplies and birthing kits.[3][5] Suitcase contents are typically worth $200 to $400.[14] Not Just Tourists has delivered over 10,000 suitcases to 82 countries[1]

Supplies are delivered to low income countries including Syria, Cuba, China, Peru, Mexico, Honduras, Uganda, Guatemala, Cameroon, Rwanda, Swaziland, Chad, El Salvador, Ghana, Ecuador, India, and Kenya.[3][10][14][6][12]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Gupta, Rahul (2019-03-12). "Not Just Tourists Toronto packs and sends medical supplies overseas". Toronto.com. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  2. ^ a b Gordon, James (2021-06-30). "NOT JUST TOURISTS: Locals help while on vacation, filling suitcases with medical supplies". Mynbc15.com. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  3. ^ a b c d e Tamara Hardingham-Gill. "How tourists can save lives on their travels". Cnn.com. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Tourists deliver medical supplies by the suitcase". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  5. ^ a b "By taking an extra suitcase on your next trip, you can save a life | Watch News Videos Online". Global News. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  6. ^ a b "CityNews". Toronto.citynews.ca. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Toronto travellers bring medical supplies to 63 countries". Torontosun.com. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Travellers do good by being Not Just Tourists". thewhig. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  9. ^ Southcott, Jerri (5 Sep 2017). "Nurse opens local chapter of group that sends medical supplies with tourists". CBC.
  10. ^ a b "Not Just Tourists expands medical 'voluntourism' project with Bristol branch". The Guardian. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  11. ^ Moss, Chris (3 September 2018). "How my suitcase helped save lives in El Salvador". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  12. ^ a b Bergen, Rachel (19 Feb 2020). "From Manitoba to China: Donated masks will help front-line workers battle coronavirus". CBC.
  13. ^ Adler, Mike (2021-10-27). "'For the people': Scarborough couple ships three containers of medical supplies to Cuba". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  14. ^ a b "How to Save Lives When You Travel". HuffPost. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2021.

External links[]

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