Ever-growing, Northwest Medical Teams again moves its base of operations

TIGARD - At the end this month, Northwest Medical Teams International will move to a new headquarters and distribution center within a mile of its current location in Tigard.

"We've simply run out of room," says Bas Vanderzalm, president of Northwest Medical Teams. "To continue to send out volunteers and medical supplies, and to operate our growing mobile dental program here at home, we need more storage space, more office space, more parking space. God has blessed us with an outstanding new facility. We can't wait to move."

The new Northwest Medical Teams facility on Milton Court will provide:

• more than three times the current warehouse space (from 10,000 to 35,000 square feet), allowing a growing number of volunteers to be involved in daily work with donated supplies. More than 200 local volunteers helped ship more than $140 million of supplies in the past 12 months.
• double the current office space (from 13,000 to 27,000 square feet), providing more room for staff and volunteers.
• permanent space for a new educational multi-sensory exhibit, which allows church groups, school children, civic organizations and individuals to visit various real-life scenes where volunteers work around the world.
• secure indoor storage space to protect local Mobile Dental Clinic vans against vandalism, theft and weather.

More than $5 million of the $5.8 million needed for the project has already been donated by hundreds of individuals, foundations and corporations. North-west Medical Teams plans to complete its fundraising efforts for the new facility by September and hopes to occupy the building without any debt.

A gift from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust will match contributions Northwest Medical Teams receives up to $400,000. In addition, Northwest Medi-cal Teams has received a $250,000 challenge grant from The Kresge Foundation. Northwest Medical Teams must complete its fundraising campaign to receive this grant.

"We have been so blessed by generous donors and businesses," said Vanderzalm. "Our contractor, S.D. Deacon, has managed the three-month remodeling project at our new building with utmost care. In addition to their expertise and generous donation of services, Steve Deacon and his staff have also encouraged subcontractors to donate part of their work to help defray remodeling costs. The thousands of dollars saved in this project can now be passed on to needy people both here in the Northwest and around the world."

Those who have donated services include Mike Holzgang at Colliers International, Group MacKenzie, Team Electric, Willamette Blueprint, Protemp Associates, Eagle's View Welding, Cudhy Lumber, W.H. Cress, F.E. Bennett and Western States Fire.

In addition to foundation support from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust and The Kresge Foundation, Northwest Medical Teams also has received support from the Meyer Memorial Trust, The Collins Foundation, the Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust and the George & Myrtle Ford/Gaylord Trust. An additional 19 foundations have also contributed. "There is no better time to help us reach the millions of hurting people who so desperately look to Northwest Medical Teams for hope and healing," added Vanderzalm. "Gifts will not only be doubled by the Murdock Trust, but they also help us qualify for the extra $250,000 from Kresge if we reach our goal. We plan to make this move debt-free."

Donors who give $100 or more will have their names listed in the new facility. To make a contribution to the building fund, go to www.nwmedicalteams.org, call 1-800-959-4325, or mail to P.O. Box 10, Portland, OR 97207.