- MODEL Teams of Ford volunteers are lining up to help the homeless from Detroit to Haiti as part of a Ford Accelerated Action Day.
- World Medical Relief is one of 16 locations where 200 Ford employees are volunteering on the first 2010 Ford Accelerated Action Day sponsored by the Ford Volunteer Corps.
- Ford volunteers are doing everything from improving childcare centers to painting at a local shelter, and packing kits of medical and personal care supplies for the homeless.
Dearborn, Mich., March 4, 2010 – Thousands of miles apart and struggling to survive in one of the world’s richest countries or one of the poorest, homeless people share a similar need for the basics in personal and medical care. The Ford Volunteer Corps is teaming up with World Medical Relief to provide assistance to people in both areas as part of a Ford Accelerated Action Day.
MODEL Teams of Ford employee and retiree volunteers are today assembling personal hygiene kits for homeless people in southeastern Michigan and packing medical supplies for earthquake victims in Haiti at World Medical Relief facilities in downtown Detroit.
The number of people who say they are homeless for the first time is increasing. In 2008, there were more than 86,000 homeless people in Michigan – up 10% from 2007.
Access to basic personal supplies give homeless people a greater sense of self and an improved outlook on life. The personal hygiene kits being prepared today include a bath towel, shampoo, toothpaste, a toothbrush, deodorant, soap and a comb. The kits will be distributed to more than 1,400 homeless children and families in the tri-county area. Most of the items were purchased with a grant from Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services.
"Creating a better world starts with our children and families. They are the foundation for building a brighter future for our local communities," said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. "A lot of people need our help, and Ford and its employees believe that giving back is the best way to show people we care."
Ford Model Teams volunteers also will be packing medical supplies destined for Haiti. These supplies will be part of the third shipment of a 40-foot container to Haitian earthquake victims organized by World Medical Relief. This shipment will include everything from blankets and clothes to basic patient care and medical supplies.
“I commend Ford for its commitment to community service," said George Samson, CEO, World Medical Relief. "The Ford volunteers have been a great help to World Medical Relief for many years, and we are looking forward to many more years of collaboration with Ford Motor Company Fund and the Ford Volunteer Corps serving the unfortunate around the globe.”
Ford Accelerated Action Days are concentrated one-day efforts to meet critical needs identified by our agency partners. This is the first of five Ford Accelerated Action Days in 2010. In May, we will focus on outdoor projects and the environment. Community Building is the theme in September during Ford Global Week of Caring. Ford MODEL Teams will help veterans and military families in November, and feeding the hungry will be our goal in December.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 198,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.
About World Medical Relief
Established in 1953, World Medical Relief is a non-profit charitable organization whose mission
is to help the medically-underserved both at home and abroad by collecting and distributing medicines, medical equipment, medical supplies, and related materials. Goods are distributed in a non-discriminatory manner without regard to race, color, gender, religion, nationality or political beliefs.
