| Ones man mission to help Africa heal  The needs of Africa are so intense that the thought of one person making an impact could be daunting. Thats how John Herron, one workshop presenter, said he felt when someone first approached him for his assistance. I remember thinking, Oh my God, this is impossible, but then I started thinking infrastructure, Herron said. Thats when he began to build his mission into a separate division within his company, Harbor City Services in Baltimore.
We sell and broker used medical equipment, explained Herron. There are times when the equipment he stores for hospitals becomes out of date because of changing technologies and/or regulations in the U.S. When a hospital no longer needs the stored equipment and no longer wishes to pay for storage, that piece of equipment becomes prime for use in other countries. We found that we could be a collection site and a small moving service, said Herron, for those who were collecting their own items to be shipped to Africa and a kind of clearinghouse for those looking for medical equipment to donate. We could pick up and store small amounts of items at different locations until they had a container fully loaded and ready for shipping for a reasonable price, he said. Herrons company has provided x-ray machines, lab equipment, infant incubators, stretchers, cribs and other items, all of them earmarked for hospitals and clinics throughout Africa. Sawyer, who is a native of Sierra Leone, has often used Herrons company to acquire and store medical equipment for his missions. He stressed that before the equipment is sent out, it is inspected by medical professionals and technicians to ensure that it is in top working condition. The new niche in Herrons company also created new jobs in the community. Referring to his companys extension, he said, Now it is a business with a social mission. He offered tips on how to approach a mission project like a business for best results. One should write a plan, make clear goals, have realistic expectations, and build in accountability checkpoints, ready to show financial backers. John Coleman Jr. | 
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