World Medical Relief - History

History

Established in 1953 by Detroit housewife - Irene M. Auberlin, who mobilized her friends and family to collect food, baby clothing, cribs, and medicines to ship overseas for a Korean war orphan. The initial help for one small boy turned into a larger mission: relieving the pain and suffering of an entire orphanage filled with 400 children.

World Medical Relief began collecting and distributing recycled medical and dental equipment, medical supplies, and medicines to aid thousands of sick and poor people around the world. By the words of Mrs. Auberlin, they were doing "God's work" by turning the sins of waste into the miracles of mercy. Although Mrs. Auberlin died in 1999, WMR continues to follow the path of a "world class beggar" and helps the poorest countries and citizens of the globe.

In 1966, the organization was granted a State of Michigan pharmacy license to fulfill prescription medication assistance program for low-income senior citizens of the state. In 2010, the agency became the responsible agency to manage the blanket program for the homeless in the Metro Detroit area. The American Red Cross Southeastern Chapter, that had handled the program for many years, changed its focus and gave up the blanket program. Rather than see it discontinue, World Medical Relief agreed to take it over and renamed the program the Blanket Relief for Area Shelters.

Current President and C.E.O. of World Medical Relief - George V. Samson.

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