Over-the-Counter Medications for First Hand Aid

Collection at church from February 27 to March 6

First Hand Aid, a non-profit organization supported by Westminster’s Mission Partnership Committee, will be collecting over the counter medications and supplies beginning Sunday, February 27 through Sunday, March 6. Tables for donations will be in the gathering place on those two Sundays and donations will be accepted at the church office throughout the week.

A group of eleven travelers, including some members of Westminster, will head to Cuba March 15, returning to Grand Rapids March 23. They will carry these donations with them to share with our partner church in Guines, Cuba, as Cuban Customs has temporarily lifted the restrictions of 20 pounds of items per person brought into Cuba. The new regulation, now extended until June, allows travelers to carry unlimited amounts of medicine and supplies. A group traveling in January was able to carry 1,400 pounds of medicine and $4000 worth of prescription items. We have never been able to carry that much previously. Never sure when Cuba might reinstate the previous restrictions, we want to stock our church dispensaries now while we have the opportunity. Each traveler will carry two 70 pound bags of critically needed medicine. 
 
The list of over-the-counter items needed is below. Thank you for your help in this important work!

Over-the-counter medications needed:

  • Ibuprofen

  • Nexium 24 hour

  • Children’s Vitamins  (non-gummy)

  • Adult Vitamins

  • Muscle pain cream ie: Ben Gay

  • Foot Powder  (large farm request)

  • Working Hands cream (again it is what the farmers use for their hands)

  • Children and infants pain relief  ie: children’s Ibuprofen or cold and flu etc

  • Alka Seltzer (regular, not cold or flu)

  • Band Aids (adult and children)

  • Pepto Bismol (tablets)