Wishlist from hillside Health Care Center

Operating costs:

(Liaison for donations for operating costs is Phil Hesselbein- phesselbein@wi.rr.com )

• Vehicle cost:  One of Hillside’s greatest expenses is in the area of transportation.  It cost a great deal to keep all the volunteers coming and going to serve the needs of the committee.  This year we have the need to replace at least two of the vehicles.  The mobile unit, which serves as transportation for our medical staff to remote villages and serves as a transport for the crucially ill, is reaching the end point of its safe service at Hillside.  The other vehicle that is used to transport our PT/OT/nursing volunteers is also in need of replacement.  The operating costs to repair, maintain and fuel the vehicles cost annually $25,000. 
• Building Maintenance:  Hillside is located in the heart of the rainforest in Belize C.A. with an annual rain fall of 180 inches. The upkeep to maintain our buildings is a day to day labor and is also one of our greatest annual expenses. 
• Housing volunteers:  At the present time Hillside rents four houses to house the long term volunteers and the students.  In addition Hillside also has sleeping units on campus.  The annual cost of housing our volunteers is $4000 in rent and much more in maintenance and housekeeping. Student fees contribute to our efforts but more is needed. Our medical volunteer program is one the finest in the world and we want to make certain it stays that way.   
• Administration needs:  Imagine the magnitude of influence and service which Hillside has on the people of Belize and what it takes to organize and direct the 9 volunteers and 12 staff members.  Now imagine doing all this work with an annual administration budget of $165,000. We need to offer the employees a safe and productive environment to do their work. 
• Shipping costs: It can cost up to $8000 to purchase a container to ship large amounts of supplies to Belize. Smaller amounts can be shipped but costs remain high. It is one thing to collect supplies here in the states, but it’s another thing to send it. Please consider donating to help cover the costs to send the supplies and equipment to Belize.