Volunteering at the Afya Foundation in Yonkers is a wonderful opportunity to help people affected by natural disasters.
By: Lisa Reyes
Afya means “good health” in Swahili. For the founder, Danielle Butin, it was a trip to Africa that changed her life. She founded the Afya Foundation ten years ago in bustling Yonkers, New York, a suburb of the city. The foundation works directly with hospitals on the ground during natural disasters to find out exactly what they need. As part of relief efforts, Afya has sent 3 million pounds of emergency supplies to Haiti, Japan, Pakistan, Syria and Greece.
Volunteers sorting medical supplies at the Afya Foundation
Photo By: Lisa Reyes
As a local news reporter, I have done countless stories about the foundation’s efforts after natural disasters domestically to global crises. The Afya Foundation calls for supplies American hospitals would throw out and re-purposes them for other nations that don’t adhere to the strict laws here in the States. Volunteers sort through packaged plastic gloves to wrapped catheters, breast pumps and syringes. Each piece of equipment will be used at hospitals low on resources to help save lives.
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As a volunteer at the Afya Foundation packing bags of alcohol wipes or basic toiletries, you think about hospitals without power, patients in need of something as simple as a band-aid and the life-saving difference you are making in their lives. After Hurricane Maria destroyed Puerto Rico, the Afya Foundation mobilized private planes and local hospitals to donate and deliver supplies to the island that seemed so inaccessible. Bright orange bags filled with packages including much needed insulin for Americans who were running out of their lifeline.
Young volunteers are learning how to sort medical supplies at the Afya Foundation
Photo By: Lisa Reyes
The Afya Foundation offers open sorts for local businesses and young people like Girl Scouts and those preparing for Bar or Bat-Mitzvahs to participate in community service. It could seem overwhelming at first, but after a few hours, once things are packaged and tossed in bins, you can see your efforts literally piling up. Groups with special needs come in and re-count all the items before they are shipped off to countries like Tanzania. The Afya Foundation is also on the front lines here at home, providing supplies to Texas, Florida and Louisiana. Butin calls it rescuing supplies…supplies carrying much more weight than any packed bag.
Volunteers of any age are welcome and you don’t need specialized skills or previous volunteering experience to give back at the Afya Foundation. For more information please visit https://afyafoundation.org/