Tom McCormack began working in Chiriqui, the westernmost province of Panama, in 1994 through the United States Government Farmer to Farmer Program, using his expertise as a Master Beekeeper to assist Panamanian beekeepers in becoming more productive.  While working there, Tom saw the need in the less fortunate areas of western Panama for items that are simply discarded in the United States. 

He began collecting used children's clothing and was able to send and distribute over 3000 pounds of clothing to  people in need in Chiriqui.  He then discovered that women who suffered from breast cancer did not have the resources to obtain breast prostheses or wigs.  With the help of volunteers and the tireless work of Roswitha Firth, donation coordinator, hundreds of prostheses and wigs were collected, hand carried, and distributed.

From there the project grew into the collection of wheelchairs, crutches, hospital beds, disposable medical supplies, bicycles, and basic household items.

In order to facilitate the importing of the donations into Panama, the McCormack Foundation was formed.  In 2006 the foundation shipped a 40 foot cargo container of donated goods to Chiriqui and the surrounding areas.  In 2008, two more containers followed; the donations were unloaded with the help of U.S. Peace Corps workers, and distributed by Tom with help from the Panamanian agency, Sinaproc (similar to the Civil Defense in the United States), and the Senadis office (office to help disabled people).

A fourth container is being prepared for shipment in  October of 2009.   Tom will receive and personally deliver all donated items to the appropriate recipients.