Not Just Tourists
{{Infobox organization
| name = Not Just Tourists
| formation = 1990
| image = Not Just Tourists logo.png
| headquarters = St Catherines
| key_people = Ken Taylor and Denise Taylor
| website = https://njt.net/
}}
Not Just Tourists is a volunteer-led grassroots organization headquartered in Canada. Not Just Tourists collects surplus healthcare supplies in Canada, USA, and UK and sends them overseas as donations with tourists visiting low income countries.{{Cite web|last=Gupta|first=Rahul|date=2019-03-12|title=Not Just Tourists Toronto packs and sends medical supplies overseas|url=https://www.toronto.com/news-story/9213527-not-just-tourists-toronto-packs-and-sends-medical-supplies-overseas/|access-date=2021-11-21|website=Toronto.com|language=en-CA}}{{Cite web|last=Gordon|first=James|date=2021-06-30|title=NOT JUST TOURISTS: Locals help while on vacation, filling suitcases with medical supplies|url=https://mynbc15.com/news/local/not-just-traveling-bring-a-suitcase-with-medical-supplies|access-date=2021-11-21|website=Mynbc15.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/travel-save-a-life/index.html|title=How tourists can save lives on their travels|author=Tamara Hardingham-Gill|website=Cnn.com|date=17 October 2017 |access-date=1 December 2021}}
Not Just Tourists has chapters in Ottawa, Niagara, Waterloo, Barrie, Calgary, Manitoba, London (Ontario), London (UK) and Halifax.
History
Not Just Tourists was founded in 1990 in St. Catharines by Ken Taylor, M.D. and his wife Denise, who took medical supplies to Cuba.https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/not-just-tourists-1.3365017|title=Tourists deliver medical supplies by the suitcase|website=Cbc.ca|access-date=2021-12-01
The Ottawa chapter was launched in 2005 by Mary Metcalfe and is currently coordinated by her husband Jacques Chenail. Ottawa and area travellers have brought suitcases of medical supplies to over 90 countries. The group also supports medical missions and contributes to ocean containers in support of medical humanitarian aid projects in countries such as Syria, Pakistan, Honduras, Cuba, and many other countries in need. Through its extensive regional network, NJT-Ottawa has also located and contributed donated wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, CPAP machines, and many other medical support devices, as well as medical supplies.{{cite web | url=https://diplomatonline.com/mag/author/mary-metcalfe-and-jacques-chenail/ | title=Mary Metcalfe and Jacques Chenail : Diplomat Magazine }}
The Toronto chapter was started in 2015 by Avi D’Souza. The group of volunteers meet on a weekly basis at Roncesvalles United Church to pack suitcases.{{Cite web|title=Toronto travellers bring medical supplies to 63 countries|url=https://torontosun.com/2017/09/04/toronto-travellers-bring-medical-supplies-to-63-countries|access-date=1 December 2021|website=Torontosun.com}}
In 2017, Drew Cumpson started the Kingston chapter,{{Cite web|title=Travellers do good by being Not Just Tourists|url=https://thewhig.com/news/local-news/travellers-do-good-by-being-not-just-tourists|access-date=2021-11-21|website=thewhig|language=en-CA}} nurse Simone Feller opened the Halifax chapter,{{cite news|last=Southcott|first=Jerri|date=5 Sep 2017|title=Nurse opens local chapter of group that sends medical supplies with tourists|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nurse-opens-local-chapter-that-sends-medical-supplies-1.4272894}} and the first UK chapter was launched by Claudia Hon M.D. in London.{{Cite web|last=Moss|first=Chris|date=3 September 2018|title=How my suitcase helped save lives in El Salvador|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/central-america/el-salvador/articles/el-salvador-not-just-tourists/|access-date=1 December 2021|website=Telegraph.co.uk}}
Cindy Ross, M.D. started the Orange Beach chapter in 2021, the first US chapter.
In 2020, the Manitoba chapter sent personal protective equipment to China.{{cite news|last=Bergen|first=Rachel|date=19 Feb 2020|title=From Manitoba to China: Donated masks will help front-line workers battle coronavirus|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/not-just-tourists-coronavirus-masks-china-1.5467232}}
In 2021, two volunteers privately arranged several shipping containers of medical supplies to be sent to Cuba.{{cite news|last=Adler|first=Mike|date=2021-10-27|title='For the people': Scarborough couple ships three containers of medical supplies to Cuba|language=en-CA|work=The Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/local-toronto-scarborough/news/2021/10/27/for-the-people-scarborough-couple-ships-three-containers-of-medical-supplies-to-cuba.html|access-date=2021-11-21|issn=0319-0781}}
Activities
Surplus medical supplies are donated by hospitals, clinics, medical suppliers, and individuals. Donated supplied usually include gauze, bandages, surgical instruments, masks, gloves, antiseptics, intravenous kits, urinary supplies and birthing kits.{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/video/3297297/by-taking-an-extra-suitcase-on-your-next-trip-you-can-save-a-life/|title=By taking an extra suitcase on your next trip, you can save a life | Watch News Videos Online|website=Global News|access-date=1 December 2021}} Suitcase contents are typically worth $200 to $400.{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-to-give-back-while-yo_b_8090562|title=How to Save Lives When You Travel|date=29 December 2015|website=HuffPost|access-date=1 December 2021}} Not Just Tourists has delivered over 10,000 suitcases to 82 countries
Supplies are delivered to low income countries including Syria, Cuba, China, Peru, Mexico, Honduras, Uganda, Guatemala, Cameroon, Rwanda, Swaziland, Chad, El Salvador, Ghana, Ecuador, India, and Kenya.{{Cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/oct/13/not-just-tourists-medical-supplies-voluntourism-project-bristol-branch|title=Not Just Tourists expands medical 'voluntourism' project with Bristol branch|date=13 October 2017|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=1 December 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/video/2019/03/10/charity-provides-supplies-to-the-needy-via-tourists/|title=CityNews|website=Toronto.citynews.ca|access-date=1 December 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://njt.net/ Not Just Tourists homepage]
Category:Medical and health organizations based in Ontario
Category:Organizations based in Ontario