Not Just Tourists
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.[4]

The Ottawa chapter was launched in 2005 by Mary Metcalfe and is currently coordinated by her husband Jacques Chenail. Ottawa and area travellers have brought suitcases of medical supplies to over 90 countries. The group also supports medical missions and contributes to ocean containers in support of medical humanitarian aid projects in countries such as Syria, Pakistan, Honduras, Cuba, and many other countries in need. Through its extensive regional network, NJT-Ottawa has also located and contributed donated wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, CPAP machines, and many other medical support devices, as well as medical supplies.[5]

The Toronto chapter was started in 2015 by Avi D’Souza. The group of volunteers meet on a weekly basis at Roncesvalles United Church to pack suitcases.[1][6][7][8]

In 2017, Drew Cumpson started the Kingston chapter,[9] nurse Simone Feller opened the Halifax chapter,[10] and the first UK chapter was launched by Claudia Hon M.D. in London.[11][12]

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.[13]

In 2021, two volunteers privately arranged several shipping containers of medical supplies to be sent to Cuba.[14]

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][6] Suitcase contents are typically worth $200 to $400.[15] 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][11][15][7][13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gupta, Rahul (2019-03-12). "Not Just Tourists Toronto packs and sends medical supplies overseas". Toronto.com. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  2. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 4 Tamara Hardingham-Gill (17 October 2017). "How tourists can save lives on their travels". Cnn.com. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  4. ↑ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/not-just-tourists-1.3365017%7Ctitle=Tourists deliver medical supplies by the suitcase|website=Cbc.ca|access-date=2021-12-01
  5. ↑ "Mary Metcalfe and Jacques Chenail : Diplomat Magazine".
  6. 1 2 "By taking an extra suitcase on your next trip, you can save a life | Watch News Videos Online". Global News. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  7. 1 2 "CityNews". Toronto.citynews.ca. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  8. ↑ "Toronto travellers bring medical supplies to 63 countries". Torontosun.com. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  9. ↑ "Travellers do good by being Not Just Tourists". thewhig. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  10. ↑ Southcott, Jerri (5 Sep 2017). "Nurse opens local chapter of group that sends medical supplies with tourists". CBC.
  11. 1 2 "Not Just Tourists expands medical 'voluntourism' project with Bristol branch". The Guardian. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  12. ↑ Moss, Chris (3 September 2018). "How my suitcase helped save lives in El Salvador". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  13. 1 2 Bergen, Rachel (19 Feb 2020). "From Manitoba to China: Donated masks will help front-line workers battle coronavirus". CBC.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. 1 2 "How to Save Lives When You Travel". HuffPost. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
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