Mary's Search for Supplies

Please help me help the midwives, moms and children of The Gambia. 

My name is Mary Shimell. I'm a student at Drexel University  and working right now at a maternity ward in a remote part of the tiniest country in West Africa. 

I came here as a journalist, to document the story of a Philly-based organization, Power Up Gambia , that provides solar energy to health clinics for Sulayman Junkung General Hospital . In my two months here, I have been drawn to the midwives and the wonderful work they do in the maternity ward, which you can read more about on my blog, "Walk in Her Shoes."

The maternity ward here has so few resources and any money I raise will go directly to this very maternity ward to help supply and re-supply very basic materials like the sutures I was in desperate search of recently while a new mother was bleeding after delivery.

We need your help here -- please read my Being Thankful blog  and then consider donating whatever you can afford. I know my goal of $10,000 is huge, and while that kind of money could dramatically change conditions here, whatever you can give, we are truly grateful.

We'd like to raise these funds by the end of the year. I can't think of a better way to give during this holiday where you really know that every dollar can truly make a difference, and in some cases a life-changing or life-saving difference.

Before Power Up Gambia brought LIGHT to the hospital's maternity ward, midwives used the lights on their cell phones (if they had them) to deliver babies. Now we can bring better supplies, better conditions and ultimately a better chance of survival for mothers of The Gambia and their babies.

Thanks for your consideration,

Mary Shimell
Drexel University