Brotherly Love: Shipping Container Becomes Medical Clinic For Africa
By Ukee Washington
NEWTOWN, Pa., (CBS) -- A Bucks County project is about to make a big difference for a poor village in Africa. As Eyewitness News anchor Ukee Washington shows us, the volunteers need just a little more help to get it there.
A year ago, the bright and colorful work of art... wasn't.
"We started out with a big old rusty shipping container," said project coordinator Susan McDonnell. "We called it The Can."
A team of volunteers with a can-do attitude transformed the metal box into a freestanding medical clinic.
Volunteer Patti Levenberg said, "The next time you come in, they got walls done, and the next time, they got floors done. It is amazing."
Susan showed us how they took advantage of every inch of space to create a pharmacy, office, and two exam rooms, complete with electricity and plumbing.
Donations paid for The Can. A majority of the materials and labor were donated. Volunteers worked Saturdays for a year in the parking lot of Lutheran Church of God's Love in Newtown.
"We should try to help our fellow man," said volunteer Ken Weisensale.
Kids and adults painted the exterior with bright colors. The littlest hands helped make a "tree."
"We wanted everyone to be a part of the mural so we captured these handprints," said Pastor Marissa Krey.
The big blue rectangles show where the windows and doors will eventually go.
"Each of the exam rooms will have an exterior door," said Susan. "They'll cut windows on each side of the rooms when it gets there."
"There" is Kisumu, Kenya. The church is collecting $10,000 to ship the clinic. An Africa-based organization called Life in Abundance will set it up for a medical team waiting.
"You know it's just so exciting to think that we can help people that live on the other side of the world," said Patti.
The group needs about four thousand dollars more to ship the clinic. To donate, you can read more at:
