Through Her Hands

Dorene Shannon collects unused medical items for the world’s needy

Packed and ready

Dorene Shannon, R.N., finishes loading a 12-foot trailer with donated medical supplies. The shipment includes cardiac, GI, respiratory and diabetic supplies, portable commodes, walkers, a waffle mattress and many more supplies that will be used to help the needy in Sierra Leone.

Six years ago, while working in LVH–Cedar Crest’s GI endoscopy unit, Dorene Shannon, R.N., noticed patient slippers were thrown away after only a few hours’ use. A friend planning a mission trip to Kosovo said they could use the slippers there.

With her director’s permission, Shannon washed and folded 500 pair and sent them off. “A ministry was born,” she says.

Since then, Shannon is inspired by the proverb, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” She dedicates herself to helping the world’s poor by collecting and sending unused and outdated medical supplies to third-world countries.

Working with materials management, the department in charge of donating our unused and outdated supplies, Shannon began collecting surgical instruments, masks, gowns and dressings. She even began collecting empty, used prescription bottles in the pharmacy. Soon, her home was filled with supplies to be delivered by missionaries from her church.

When Shannon spoke at Sunday services, people began donating money, allowing Shannon to directly mail items to other countries. Donated medical supplies also poured in. “Thanks to that speech,” she says, “three people in Guatemala received artificial legs!”

The news of Shannon’s work spread. She developed relationships with charitable organizations that helped her get supplies to 15 different third-world countries. “Things evolved beyond my wildest dreams,” she says. “Now, all supplies are kept in a local storage site because my house was full.”

Six years after washing her first slipper, Shannon is incorporated applying for nonprofit status. She calls it “Through These Hands.” She’s often reminded of a famous quote, “God gave us two hands—one to take and one to give.” “That’s what I’m doing,” she says

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