MedWish Medworks has been saving lives and the environment since 1993.
As we continue to grow, expanding our reach to those both locally and globally, we want to share our impact through the powerful stories we hear along the way.
2025 Kayla Nicole Schwartz Award: Tomas Cakulev
We are excited to announce the recipient of the 2025 Kayla Nicole Schwartz Award: Tomas Cakulev!
Community Comes Together to Fulfill #1 Local Need
This may come as a surprise, but the most requested items from our 300+ local partners isn’t wheelchairs or canes or walkers. It’s hygiene products!
People who receive SNAP benefits cannot purchase non-food items like cleaning and hygiene products with their cards, so the demand for these items is pretty constant. Some are going to nonprofits who are supporting the needs in their neighborhoods, but recently most went to community back-to-school events, where they were put into backpacks given to students.
Old Medical Supplies Go to Work
Do you ever wonder what happens to the unused/rescued medical supplies donated to MedWish Medworks? Most – roughly 60% – are packed up in large shipping containers, boxes, or suitcases and sent abroad. The rest are distributed through our 300+ nonprofit partners to benefit residents in our own community.
One of our longtime community partners is Cleveland’s Building Hope in the City. In Spring 2025, The Hope Center: for refugees and immigrants, a ministry of Building Hope in the City, started a four-month caregiver job training program. They reached out to several community partners to secure supplies and tools to make this happen.
Mobility Means Freedom
Kelly faced a life-changing medical crisis in 2023, when a wellness check found her unresponsive on the floor of her home. Her sister, living in Ohio, flew down to Georgia immediately after hearing the news. Kelly was later diagnosed with Rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition where skeletal muscle tissue breaks down, often leading to kidney failure and other serious complications. After a long hospital stay and a gradual recovery, Kelly’s sister was finally able to bring her to Ohio to provide ongoing care.
Volunteer of the Year Jane Smith
As an electrical engineer, Jane Smith designed microchips for different products and industries. Some chips were used in manufacturing automation, communication devices and wireless networks.
Jane got involved in volunteering with Medworks through her friend and co-worker Donna Kramer, whom Jane calls a “super” volunteer. Jane started volunteering at clinics doing non-medical tasks 12 years ago.
The retired grandmother of five now comes to the MedWish Medworks warehouse every Friday during the morning shift to count and sort medical supplies. She also continues to help with medical, dental and vision clinics.
Donna Kramer Named 2024 Free Clinic Volunteer of the Year
In partnership with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), the Charitable Healthcare Network (CHN) is pleased to announce Donna Kramer as the 2024 Free Clinic Volunteer of the Year award winner. Kramer is a dedicated volunteer for MedWish Medworks, contributing her time, expertise and boundless energy to improving the lives of underserved individuals throughout Cleveland, Ohio.
MedWish and Medworks have officially joined forces!
We are thrilled to announce that Medworks and MedWish have officially merged! As MedWish Medworks, we will create an even stronger impact in Cleveland, Northeast Ohio, and around the world. Together, we will be greater than the sum of our parts. In fact, we are confident that 1+1 = 3!