Emily DeBray, a psychology instructor at Bevill State who helped organize a medical relief drive on the Sumiton campus, sits in front of items donated to help impoverished residents of Malawi. Photo By: David Lazenby
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03-18-2009
SUMITON – Emily DeBray, a psychology instructor at Bevill State Community College, said stories of disabled residents of Malawi without necessary medical equipment such as wheelchairs did not sit well with her.
DeBray, the co-sponsors of the school’s Student Government Association, took the matter in her own hands by organizing a medical relief drive for residents of the landlocked country in southeast Africa.
During the event held on the school’s Sumiton campus Wednesday, DeBray shared stories of handicapped residents who had to work, despite their disabilities and lack of devices to help compensate for their conditions.
“They literally would crawl on their hands and knees on the dirt road to get to work,” said DeBray who is herself wheelchair bound.
“When I heard that — being in a wheelchair myself — I knew I had to do something,” she said.
Members of the SGA got on board the mission and agreed to hold the drive that collected everything from bandages to burn ointments Wednesday.
DeBray said the effort was made a success by those who donated to the cause. One nurse, she said, gave more than $5,000 in medical supplies. “That was a wonderful donation,” DeBray said.
DeBray learned of the plight of handicapped residents of Malawi from Landmark Church of Christ, a Montgomery-based ecclesiastical organization that sends the supplies to the Third World country.
“I think it’s a great idea and wonderful opportunity to give back,” said, Melissa Hanes, the director of financial services for the college, after dropping off a hodgepodge of medical supplies. “I tried to bring a little bit of everything,” said Hanes who added that college employees were sent e-mails during the week to inform them about the effort.
Also helping to get the information out was a display at the school showing Malawi residents in wheelchairs made from plastic lawn furniture.
Morgan Bickerstaff, a Bevill State student who donated a pair of crutches Wednesday, said it wasn’t the e-mail or display that inspired her gift, but “Miss DeBray.”
DeBray said Wednesday’s charitable endeavor was not her first effort. “This will be the second shipment of medical supplies I’ve been involved with,” she said. DeBray was able to collect supplies worth $35,000 for Malawi when she served as Ms. Wheelchair Alabama.
The effort was also not the first time this week in which a goodwill event was held in Walker County by a school seeking to help the less fortunate in Africa.
On Monday, Walker High School students raised money for Compassion International, a Christian child advocacy ministry seeking to decrease malaria in Africa where the disease is often fatal.
David Lazenby News Editor Thursday, Mar 12, 2009
Reprinted by permission of Daily Mountain Eagle |
