News

Green Bay sewing mission all began in Haiti

By Nancy Barthel
Compass Correspondent

GREEN BAY -- Don't ever think one person can't make a difference.

One plus one, plus dozens more, have changed the lives of many, all gifted by the generosity of Green Bay Medical and Sewing Mission.

For the past 10 years, the mission's volunteer endeavors have helped people in 19 Third World countries and several U.S. states, as well as individuals within the Diocese of Green Bay.

Telling the group's history wouldn't be complete without an understanding of the prayers that drive its mission and changed the lives of the people who have shared in its work.

"It's just miraculous, the things that happen," said Kay Daugherty, coordinator of the mission, and a member of Ss. Edward and Isidore Parish in Flintville.

Co-coordinators are Dianne Lockstein, of St. John the Baptist Parish in Howard, and Brad Vaughn of St. Bernard in Green Bay. Also on the board of directors are their spouses, John Daugherty, Gary Lockstein and Mary Vaughn, as well as a youth representative, Rachel Schelter, of St. John Parish.

Since 2006, their home base has been a building donated by St. Vincent de Paul. Before that, they worked out of various sites, including a hospital, a clinic basement, a warehouse and even at The Chapel at Robinsonville.

"This is a blessing," said Daugherty of their current comfortable workspace. That same day, they had shipped medical supplies to Mexico and were preparing a shipment for Haiti.

But Honduras was where it all began.

Green Bay Medical and Sewing Mission began with the partnership of Daugherty and Bev Olson, both registered nurses at St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center. Olson had been to Honduras on a medical mission three times. In 1998, Honduras was devastated by Hurricane Mitch and Olson found herself needing to do something. So she approached the local media for the opportunity to ask for donations.

Daugherty said that Olson didn't expect much of a response, but "the parking lot at St. Mary's (Hospital) was filled."

They had to ask Schneider International to donate a truck and, in the end, it took seven trucks to ship all the goods the Green Bay area had donated.

Supplies continued to come in. In the meantime, Daugherty had retired and would eventually travel to Africa and Haiti for mission work. In the ensuing years, most of the organizational work was done by Daugherty herself and she admits that every time she's thought about walking away, "something always just happened that made me think."

During the last couple years, Lockstein and Vaughn came to help. Lockstein was inspired by a mission talk given by Deacon Nick Williams at St. John the Baptist, and by the work parish sewers were (and continue to do) for Green Bay Medical and Sewing Mission.

For Vaughn, it was the cajoling by his wife, Mary, a nurse, to come with her on a medical mission in Haiti. He didn't want to go, but has now twice been there with the Friends of Haiti.

Vaughn works third shift at the SuperValu warehouse and his organizational and shipping experience there has proved invaluable to his mission work. He added that his workplace has been a key supporter, supplying shelving and plenty of other assistance.

Volunteer work "changes your life," said Vaughn, adding that what he's seen in Haiti keeps him coming in to volunteer several times a week, after just a few hours of sleep.

"The poverty and grief that people are going through is really incredible," he said. "We're leaving and these little kids come running up to you, (saying,) 'Take me with you.'"

Donations of medical supplies and other goods come from private individuals like the woman who brought personal items and medical supplies that had been unused by her aunt, who had lost her battle with cancer.

There are many long-term donors, including all the Green Bay hospitals, St. Vincent de Paul Society, the members' parishes, Green Bay Community Church, Green Bay Plastics, Grabar Electric, Macco Floor Covering and Leicht's Warehouse.

Green Bay Medical and Sewing Mission accepts almost any usable items, including personal care items, hygiene products, school supplies, toys and sewing materials and notions. They also take items such as bandages, canes, walkers, shower chairs and wheelchairs.

"Bedding and towels, it's all gold in these countries," said Daugherty.

They recently received a sizeable donation from the City of Seymour, which had cleaned out its World War II era fall-out shelter. Gurneys, wool blankets and 70-year-old surgical instruments, all found in perfect condition, today are being used in Third World Countries and will help establish a volunteer fire department in Guatemala.

Seamstresses at St. John the Baptist as well St. Philip Parish in Green Bay make clothes and diapers and layettes for new mothers. Sisters in Merrill and retired nurses in Florence also sew for them. Daugherty showed off a dress that had been made from a donated top. "Material comes by leaps and bounds," she said of donations.

Locally, Green Bay Medical and Sewing Mission helps elderly persons who can't afford things like adult diapers and other personal and medical supplies. The mission has also partnered with organizations such as the New Community Shelter, Paul's Pantry, the NEW Zoo, Love Life, St. Vincent de Paul, the Lions Clubs and Brother Regis' Salvatorian Mission Warehouse in New Holstein.

"It's amazing what people will do for you, but you have to ask," said Vaughn. "They don't know what you want until you ask."

On the wall at the mission, youth representative Schelter has painted words of Mahatma Ghandi: "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

Vaughn and Daugherty put it just as succinctly. "If you help one person out," said Vaughn, and Daugherty completed his sentence: "Then your life is worth living."

For more information about the Green Bay Medical and Sewing Missions, contact Kay Daugherty at (920) 434-1264.