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Colorado Medical Mission
This Medical Mission Has Been Completed
July 9, 2023 — July 15, 2023
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Mission Archive · July 2023
The Need
Over the past 5 years, Denver’s unhoused population has nearly doubled and grown 12 times faster than the city’s total population. People experiencing homelessness continues to be an increasingly severe problem and government subsidies and charitable organizations simply cannot keep up with the demands to provide enough care and services. The latest trajectories put Denver on a path of even greater limited resources. There simply are not enough resources to care for the health care demands of this growing population.
Many patients in this community suffer from medical recidivism because they simply do not know how to manage preventative measures of health and nutrition, cannot properly maintain their chronic health conditions, or lack the ability to self-triage between basic or urgent health care needs. Our goal is to help put them on a path for a healthier life, guide them through consultations and education toward better options or ultimately give them the care they need right then.
Our Work
IMR began providing life saving work in the Colorado shelter system during Covid. For nearly two years, IMR provided 24/7 coverage to these vulnerable populations in a congregate resident setting and made a huge impact to those suffering from homelessness. Today, we want to expand upon and continue the care that our phenomenal caregivers gave by revisiting these neighbors and being a part of this continuing story. Volunteers will advocate for these patients and provide them with life-saving knowledge and care. Join us to help save lives and make a difference. For our patients, no matter their situation, IMR helps to ensure each and every one has access to quality care and are welcome.
With diligent planning and preparation, IMR is dedicated to ensuring that specific goals are met on our missions, each in correlation to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 17.
IMR works to elevate vulnerable populations through shoulder-to-shoulder care with our local partners, creating workforce density, and a cadre of future healthcare and public health leaders in association to UNSDG 3: Good Health & Wellbeing.
In correlation with UNSDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, our organization works in collaboration and at the request of local hosts where we are under their direct influence and affluence. IMR never goes into a country without a formal invitation where there is a great community need for medical or dental care, and health education.
This Mission
You don’t have to leave the US to make a great impact. Participate in a Colorado experience allowing you to be a part of the IMR family right in our US headquarters. IMR fosters a heart of service and the ability to bring hope and care to communities around the world. Here, you can gain this same joy of giving back in our nation where people experience homelessness. You will also have the opportunity to build a bridge for our teams deploying for international clinic locations and the communities they serve by packing with care the much needed medical supplies and equipment to be sent to doctors and nurses with the tools they need to provide sustainable education and training, treatment and diagnosis of patients with full laboratory, specialty equipment, pharmacy, triage and other diagnostic equipment.
Lodging/Transportation
You will be staying in the city of Denver for the week. IMR’s travel partner, Worldwide Navigators, can assist out of state volunteer with accommodations that match your price point, from hotels to homestays.
Extend Your Stay
Worldwide Navigators can help arrange Colorado tours for you in Colorado Springs or many of our mountain communities where alpine slides, zip lining, river rafting, fly fishing, hiking, the National Parks and so many other activities of the great outdoors attract tourists from across our nation. Contact Worldwide Navigators.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1 · Sunday, July 9, 2023
Arrivals
Day 2 · Monday, July 10, 2023
Orientation and CPR/Basic First Aid Training
Day 3 · Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Medical Relief
Day 4 · Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Warehouse Warriors - Lunch & Learn
Day 5 · Thursday, July 13, 2023
Medical Relief
Day 6 · Friday, July 14, 2023
Medical Relief
Day 7 · Saturday, July 15, 2023
Departures
Gallery
Your Journey
Full Itinerary
This itinerary is subject to change without notice.
You will need to arrange your flight destination to be Denver International Airport (DEN). If you need assistance booking flights, please contact Worldwide Navigators, our preferred travel agency, at travel@worldwidenavigators.com. You may also choose to arrange transportation from the airport to your accommodation, which you may purchase from within your portal under Trip Add-Ons.
Arrivals
Plan to arrive in Denver, Colorado Sunday evening and settle in for the night. IMR’s travel partner Worldwide Navigators can assist all volunteers coming from out-of-state with accommodation that matches your price point, from hotels to homestays.
Orientation and CPR/Basic First Aid Training
Eat breakfast at your leisure. You and your team will meet at 8am for orientation. Your team leader will go through your orientation program which includes roles for the day’s operations and IMR’s protocols, in addition to an overview of the location and/or community you and your team will be serving today. Your days may be different as there are a variety of needs in Colorado’s underserved communities, including community health education, basic health overviews, health screenings, body mechanics, consultation and referrals, Q&A sessions, and other support.
In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to get certified training in CPR and Basic First Aid by our certified master trainers. Go home with an extra skillset that will serve you when you least expect it.
In the evening you will have a debrief from your team leader and review goals for the next day. Enjoy the many offerings that the City of Denver has to offer in downtown from our 16th Street Mall, Lodo, The Highlands, or if you have more energy, take in Elitches or a baseball game!
Meals: Lunch,
Medical Relief
This morning, you and your team will meet after your breakfast for an overview of what your day will look like providing medical care to the people of Colorado. Your day will be full of many opportunities to serve others and will be extremely rewarding. Lunch will be provided to you during the day, and dinner will be enjoyed as a group in the evening.
Meals: Lunch,
Warehouse Warriors - Lunch & Learn
Today you’ll learn the ins and outs of how IMR prepares our supplies for each deployment. Get an inside look at what makes our clinics run and pack out supplies with loving care for an upcoming deployment. Sort, organize, and prepare each area of clinic, educational materials, and medications for upcoming international missions in IMR signature orange bags.
Get ready to learn and grow in your knowledge about IMR and medical missions. You will get to discuss global health care, learn what is new and offer innovative ideas about global health.
In the evening, you’ll return to Denver to get rested for your next day of service.
Meals: Lunch,
Medical Relief
This morning, you and your team will meet after breakfast for an overview of what your day will look like providing volunteer services to the people of Colorado. Your day will be full of many opportunities to serve others and will be extremely rewarding. Lunch will be provided to you during the day, and dinner will be on your own in the evening.
Meals: Lunch,
Medical Relief
Your final day of volunteering with IMR has come so make today count – last day best day! At the end of your day we will have a grand finale debrief, pass out much-earned certificates, and celebrate each other and our accomplishments with a ‘cheers to peers’ after volunteering.
You are welcome to depart Colorado anytime after 6pm today. If you are flying, plan a departure time at 8pm or later for your journey back home.
Meals: Lunch,
Departures
Your mission has officially concluded. Worldwide Navigators can help arrange Colorado tours for you in Colorado Springs or many of our mountain communities where alpine slides, zip lining, river rafting, fly fishing, hiking, the National Parks and so many other activities of the great outdoors attract tourists from across our nation. Contact Worldwide Navigators.
Thank you for your service!
Welcome Home! Please upload your photos!
Your Journey
Extension Photos
Extensions
Since you are already venturing across the globe, consider extending your stay by a few days to explore one of the globe’s treasures, the Galápagos Islands! Join International Medical Relief on an exclusive trip extension provided by our partner, Worldwide Navigators!
On this extension, you will have the opportunity to explore the enchanted islands of Galápagos. Share a beach with sea lions, swim with penguins, walk with giant tortoises, stroll through flamingo lagoons, dive under lava tunnels among amazingly colored fish, and step on an active volcano. These islands are a unique place in the world and you will have the opportunity to make the most of each day.
Ecotourism Adventure to the Galápagos Islands
Itinerary:
Day 1: Begins in Guayaquil
Ecuador is an ecotourism champion, with the Galápagos Islands set 620 miles from its western mainland shores under the country’s care. Here in Guayaquil, you will have your overnight lodgings. Take a stroll and get a sense of place along Malecón 2000, the riverside promenade along the Guayas River.
Day 2: Guayaquil | Baltra | Sail the Galápagos Islands | Santa Cruz Island
From Guayaquil, you will take a flight to Baltra airport in the Galápagos. Here your ecotourism adventure begins by boarding a boat for a five-day sailing excursion between these incredible islands where Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution after studying different species of Galápagos finches.
Get a preliminary briefing on your boat and your tour itinerary and meet your onboard naturalist guide who will lead your daily excursions. Your first stop this afternoon will be at Santa Cruz Island. Here you will take a short hike to photogenic Dragon Hill, passing a lagoon frequented by flamingos and other bird life. From the hill, you will have rewarding views of the bay and a land iguana nesting site.
Day 3: Galápagos Islands | Isabela Island | Fernandina Island
Rise early for breakfast, then be ready to take in the sights at your first stop, Isabela Island. At Vicente Roca point, the past volcanic action created two sheltered turquoise bays. From your boat’s vantage point below the rocky cliffs, spot masked and blue-footed boobies perched on the cliffsides and flightless cormorants on shore. The cold water currents here attract marine life, and sea lions and penguins frequent the area.
Lunch on board as you sail to Fernandina Island, your afternoon stop. At Espinosa point, hundreds of marine iguanas gather on black lava rock. Pelicans, sea lions, penguins and flightless cormorants are also abundant here. Check out the different types of lava flows with the naturalist.
During your evenings on board, you will enjoy dinner, presentations by the naturalist, relaxation, and socializing with fellow passengers.
Day 4: Galápagos Islands | Santa Cruz Island
You’ll spend the day on Santa Cruz Island, the economic center of the Galápagos Islands. In the morning, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, and learn about the resident Galápagos tortoises and the breeding programs the center operates to help preserve the species.
In the afternoon, visit the town of Puerto Ayora, where there are many shops, restaurants, and bars. In the bay, you may spot brown pelicans, sea lions, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, herons and frigate birds.
Dinner is back on board your boat, where your sail will resume as you head to Floriana Island.
Day 5: Galápagos Islands | Floriana Island
You’ll spend the last full day of sailing on Floriana Island. In the morning, marvel at the breathtaking views while visiting the Baroness’s Observatory, where you will learn about the mysterious disappearance of an Austrian Baroness who lived here with her two lovers. Then on to Post Office Bay, where sailors would leave mail in a barrel to be delivered home by other sailors headed to that same home port. You can continue the tradition today by leaving a card and seeing how long it will take it to arrive home!
In the afternoon, walk the Cormorant Point trail past a flamingo-frequented lagoon to a beautiful white-sand beach where green sea turtles lay their eggs at night. Then, your boat will anchor at Champion Islet, just off Floriana, where you can experience some great snorkeling to admire the coral formations, fish, and perhaps green sea turtles in their element.
This evening, enjoy your last dinner on board, telling stories of your adventures with fellow ecotourism tour students as you head back to Baltra.
Day 6: Baltra | Guayaquil
Arrive back at Baltra where you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Guayaquil. Enjoy the rest of the day in this port city. Take a walk to Parque Seminario, also known as Iguana Park for its iguanas who reside in the trees, along the sidewalks or even sprawl on the park benches. Or visit the colorful neighborhood of Las Peñas with its rainbow spectrum of painted homes.
Settle in tonight for a nice dinner to sample local cuisine and enjoy your last evening of Ecuadorian culture.
Day 7: Departure Home
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, then head to Guayaquil airport and savor your ecotourism trip memories of the Galápagos Islands on your flight back home.
For more information and to make reservations, contact Worldwide Navigators.
Flights & Prices
This mission has been completed. The details below are retained for reference; applications and early bird offers for this trip are closed.
Mission minimum donation: $100
For current travel arrangements and donation amounts, please view our upcoming missions.
Prepare to Go
A Walk Through Clinic
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