Project HERO collects and redistributes donated healthcare materials to benefit those in need.

Project HERO cares for unused medical supplies in an environmentally sound manner. All excess, unused medical products, supplies and used medical equipment are handled in an environmentally safe manner, promoting recycling through redistribution.

Anyone is welcome to receive medical equipment and supplies from HERO. When obtaining items from HERO, there is a small suggested handling fee. This fee helps HERO maintain warehouse space and utilities. The HERO policy is that individuals and families are never turned away. If it is not possible to pay, the fee is waived.

HERO began in 1996 as a mandate from the local chapter of the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN) to address the large amount of wasted healthcare materials from local hospitals.

Initial recycling efforts focused on collecting, storing and packaging these materials and supplying them for use in the Third World by medical mission teams.

Support for HERO was provided by MeritCare Foundation (start-up expenses) and Dakota Heartland Health System (donation of warehouse space from 1998 to 2001). From 2002 to May of 2004, Stenerson Lumber donated warehouse space to HERO.

In 2000, Project HERO was incorporated as a licensed 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the State of North Dakota. Shortly thereafter, HERO’s focus shifted to include redistribution of durable medical equipment and healthcare supplies to residents in need.

In 2002, Dakota Medical Foundation and the Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation provided grants to HERO to support the expansion of services and to assist with redistribution efforts locally.

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Joyce Newton
Executive Director
Joyce's Email

Georgia Dufault
Operations Manager
Georgia's Email

Jessica Krogstad

Development Director

Jessica's email

Michelle Peterson

Warehouse/Office Assistant

Michelle's Email

Pamella Zimmerman

Warehouse Assistant

Deanna Micheli, RN, BS, CNOR
Founder and Volunteer Medical Supply Coordinator

In pursuing our mission, the Board of Directors, volunteers and staff are committed to:

Adovcating the protection of the environment by practicing recycling through redistribution of medical materials.

Demonstrating respect for all customers, clients and patients.

Collaborating with other organizations collectively to provide for those in need.

Maintaining a pro-active approach to improving and expanding HERO services.

HERO’s organizational goals include:

Increase staff time to meet increasing demands for service.

Educate and assist regional facilities in the benefits of waste reduction.

Assist those in need by providing donated medical supplies and equipment normally discarded into landfills and incinerators.

Provide service learning opportunities for volunteers.

(View our scrapbook to see our mission in action)

HERO’s response to individual requests for necessary healthcare supplies and durable medical equipment has increased from 16 to over 1300 from 2003 to 2009. HERO has expanded the redistribution of medical materials from 59 to more than 105 partner agencies. (Agency requests may serve up to 30 individuals per request.)

HERO has increased its local redistribution of medical supplies and equipment from 3,362 items in 2003 to 12,079 in 2007 and over 18,000 in 2009. HERO continues to supply more than 48 medical mission teams with medical and surgical supplies.  In 2009, over 84,800 pounds of usable medical materials were saved from disposal in our local landfills and incinerators

Thus far in 2009, HERO volunteers and service-learning groups dedicated 2505 hours of time to HERO. Groups include student and adult volunteers from healthcare facilities, faith-based organizations, area schools, and higher education institutions.

2008 Annual report

2007 Annual Report

2006 Annual Report

2005 Annual Report

2004 Annual Report

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