Nonprofit MEDonate donates more than 7,000 unused medical supplies to communities in need

Meet MEDonate: a nonprofit organization created by two Rutgers students dedicated to aiding those in need — both domestically and internationally — through the donation of medical supplies.

Joshua Tropper, a Rutgers Business School alumnus, and Audrey Terrany, a School of Arts and Sciences junior, officially incorporated MEDonate as a nonprofit in January with the goal of providing underprivileged populations with necessary medical supplies and equipment.

Tropper said that as an adult and a college graduate, he has learned about the avenues through which he can help those affected by poverty and thus created MEDonate.

“I've also always had the drive to want to help people in any fashion I could,” he said. “Now that I’m older … I’m able to understand how to help the society and community, and I'm more motivated to leverage my connections, as well as my knowledge and ability to do research, to understand and get more knowledge as to what it is really.”

Terrany said that these supplies include syringes, needles, sutures, surgical mesh and any other unused items from family and friends, medical professionals and hospital networks within the tri-state area.

The pair collects, categorizes and inventories donated supplies and plan for exporting them to different locations that are unable to access medical resources, usually via cooperation with a larger nonprofit organization like Project C.U.R.E., Terrany said.

“Once we generate a pile deemed large enough, we would drive them to a nonprofit organization to leverage their pre-existing network and distribution process,” she said. “They can be sent throughout the U.S. and over to other countries via cargo, freights or packages.”

Trooper said that nonprofit organizations also help determine the efficacy of the supplies and how they can best be used. For example, Project C.U.R.E or Doctors Without Borders might determine the parameters for expired gauze and create new ways to make use of it, he said.

Terrany said these methods have demonstrated success, as the organization has collected and distributed more than 7,000 supplies to communities in need.

MEDonate has previously donated supplies overseas to Nigeria and Armenia, she said, but they have also found plenty of places to donate within the U.S. due to the ongoing pandemic and the continual need for personal protective equipment.

The organization also plans to contribute to relief efforts in Ukraine as the invasion continues and donated medical equipment becomes increasingly needed.

Terrany and Tropper have high hopes for the future and will continue partnering with more organizations and collecting and donating an increased amount of supplies. They said that they would eventually like to involve current Rutgers students in any capacity possible.

“There are many countries and areas within the U.S. who can use our help, and we feel as though we are doing the best we can to bring otherwise surplus supplies to places where they can be put to good use,” Terrany said. “We hope to continue donating these supplies in larger quantities and perhaps creating awareness of this issue at a greater scale.”