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, U.S. 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. Two additional containers were shipped in October of 2009 and another in 2010. Container #7 was shipped on October 4, 2011. The eighth container arrived in Panama on December 17, 2011. Tom receives and personally delivers all donated items to the appropriate recipients.
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, U.S. 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. Two additional containers were shipped in October of 2009 and another in 2010. Container #7 was shipped on October 4, 2011. The eighth container arrived in Panama on December 17, 2011. Tom receives and personally delivers all donated items to the appropriate recipients.
The last six containers were facilitated with the help of Vice Mayor Rito Barrett (David, Panama) my Panamanian coordinator Senor Diogenes Sagel, and distribution coordinator Ruby Cirmca.
Thank you to all of the volunteers in the United States and Panama working together for the collection and distribution of goods for the benefit of the neediest families in Panama.
A very special thank you to Gene Pash, President of Value Ambridge Properties, Ambridge, PA, for donating warehouse space for storage of donated equipment and to Marco Gruelle, Export Manager of D.T. Gruelle Co. of Moon Township, for donating time and expertise in the shipment of our containers to Panama.
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Visit our picture gallery (updated January 15, 2012)
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Chiriqui Chatter documents arrival of Container 8
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See Container 7 being unloaded on October 28, 2011. Click on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I-ZkbLVP7I
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A perfect fit. Click on: http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2011/11/01/giving-your-fellow-man-a-leg-up/#comments
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To see more of Sissi, please click on:
