Volunteers in Ludington, MI make bandages for clinics in Haiti

by Karen Manley

When I was in Haiti in 2001, I visited a wound clinic with the Sisters of Charity.  I rolled cotton balls while the sisters cleansed and wrapped wounds- some were horribly gruesome.  They have no local anesthetic to numb the wounds, but the Haitians are so grateful, they grit their browned teeth and squeeze their eyes shut to the pain as the sisters work on the wound.  They use ripped and rolled bandages from any scrap of material they find. 
So, when I came home, I started ripping and rolling.  And, now, with all the amputees and serious wounds they received from the quake, the sisters are in dire need of bandages.  Thus, I formed the Rip N Roll Project.  It has been hugely successful here in my community.  My goal was to get a ton of bandages to Haiti.   
Last Friday, 797 pounds of bandages and linens were delivered to the Rays of Hope warehouse in Grand Rapids to be sent to Haiti.  I'm 1/3 of the way to my goal!!! 
The project has gotten many groups together in our area.  A group of ladies at our senior  housing complex rolled 3000 bandages so far!  Charlene, a very special lady, got the group going and said that it has been the best thing for their community.  Another lady who has been at the complex for two years said she has finally met some of her very nice neighbors. They said that they would continue to roll until they die.
Other groups involved are the French class at Ludington High School, the Scottville Senior Center, a girl scout group, our local boat club, a class at our Intermediate School District, various church groups, a weight training group, a bank, a couple of home schooled families and many concerned individuals.  I am sure that I probably missed a few groups, for that I am sorry.
Some local hotels have been very generous with their unwanted linens. 
A friend even came up with a gadget to attach to an electrical drill so that men could participate.  Guys and their tools!!!  One gentleman at the senior complex volunteered to be the de-threader.  The women were very thankful to him.
The response in our small community has been awesome.  I can only hope that groups in other communities will hear of my Rip N Roll project and get ripping and rolling for Haiti.  

Laughter, friends and ripping and rolling are the best medicines . 

I was invited to a large apartment complex's activity day this week to demonstrate my project and also talk about Haiti.  It was a heart-fulfilling time.  Two elderly ladies sat quietly by themselves.  I went over to them and one of them said to me, "I don't thing that I can do this.  I'm old and useless."  I got teary-eyed and said, "We'll just see about that, you are still on this earth for a reason."  After showing these two ladies how to roll, they tried.  One said, "I'm afraid that mine aren't good enough." and unrolled her bandage.  I picked the strip up and another one she had already rolled and told her that hers were perfect and the sisters will be forever grateful for their contribution.
The ladies smiled and told the activities director to make sure they meet more often to Rip N Roll.
My mother doesn't leave the house and she has almost every health condition imaginable.  She kept telling God and the family, I don't understand why I am still HERE (on this earth).   I got her started ripping and rolling at home, she does a little every day.  At her last doctor's appointment, she was quite jovial.  Her blood numbers had increased and the doctor was very pleased. He asked if she was doing anything different.  She pointed at me and told him that I was responsible.  Then, I explained mom's important donation to the Rip and Roll program has made all the change in her!   

With love, Karen Manley