DENVER (CBS4)– It took two tries, but a team from Colorado made it to Haiti to provide dental and medical assistance to people living outside the capital city of Port Au Prince.
It was a display of international benevolence and caring that almost didn’t happen.
(credit: Bridge of Life)
Gas price hikes touched off riots in Haiti’s capital in July.
(credit: CBS)
Volunteers from Colorado and elsewhere were already on the way and had to be turned back.
(credit: CBS)
“Our volunteers were incredibly disappointed everybody was so passionate about going to serve in Haiti,” said Greta Walker with Bridge of Life.
(credit: Bridge of Life)
They were able to try again a few months later. They delivered supplies, care and medical attention for people living outside of the capital Port Au Prince.
(credit: Bridge of Life)
Valerie Zanon of Denver speaking in Haiti said, “The events that happened in July made me more determined to see the project through and i was relieved that it was rescheduled.”
(credit: Bridge of Life)
A total of 20 volunteers joined staff members to see 1,900 Haitians. Among those who came from Colorado was Spencer Hodge.
(credit: Bridge of Life)
He and the rest of the volunteers are employees of Davita, the kidney treatment firm based in Denver.
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“This is one of the few times free medical services come out to them where they live,” he said.
(credit: Bridge of Life)
Some of the stations helped residents with vital signs, blood tests, doctor visits and dental care.
(credit: Bridge of Life)
“Health care despite how difficult it may be you have an obligation to provide it to people around the world,” said Hodge.
(credit: Bridge of Life)
Those who came from the U.S. were there to give but they also received a lesson about how similar all humans area.
(credit: Bridge of Life)
Bridge of Life serves 28 countries. It was founded by Davita which helps fund the trips in which volunteers also raise money.
LINK: Bridge of Life
CBS4’s Rick Sallinger is a Peabody award winning reporter who has been with the station more than two decades doing hard news and investigative reporting. Follow him on Twitter @ricksallinger.