Crate Fate

(From Caleb)

It is a significant challenge to utilize every cubic inch inside a 40-foot container destined for Burundi.  Since the initial McCropders arrived in country we have received a total of 5 containers full of medical equipment and supplies, tools for construction, a hammer mill for making Busoma flour, school supplies and many other items essential to the work here.  Of course, we have added some things not so essential to the work exactly, but very helpful for our mental health such as hammocks, motorcycles, and some super-sized jugs of Chipotle Tabasco sauce.

When shipping a 40-foot container the cost is not dependent on the total weight of the container as long as it is under 40,000lbs.  Thus it is the most cost effective to stuff it as full as possible.  One of the most efficient ways of doing this is through the use of crates.  More than 5 years ago, Jason and Heather hosted the first crate building party.  Since then a few similar ‘parties’ have ensued.  The magic of the crate is three-fold: they allow a container to be loaded and unloaded fairly quickly, they protect the items packed inside, and you can pack on top of them thus filling the container to the very brim. 

So what happens to all of this precious dimensional lumber (otherwise not available in Burundi) when the container arrives and the crates are disemboweled? Below are some examples of how these crates will live out their years here at Kibuye:

First Generation Incubators

Eye Unit Operating Tables

Sterile Instrument Storage for ORs

Stand for Vital Signs Monitor

Daily Surgical Line-up Board

Steps for certain 'Vertically-Challenged' Kibuye Surgeons

Stands for positioning a leg during SIGN-Nail Procedures

IT-Closet

Shop Bench

Mega-Desk

Food-Dehydrator 

Lofted Bed with Desk

Baby Bassinet Holder

Baby-Gate