Our Story
HOW WE STARTED
Meet Our Founders
Sharon Griffith
Visionary & Founder
Liz Murtland
Founding Executive Director
History
A Vision
for Healthcare
Hands of Hope Northwest's ministry was conceived by Sharon Griffith, a Mercy Hospital employee, who saw medical equipment being thrown away and realized it could be reused for the benefit of people without adequate healthcare. Sharon’s vision was built on by Liz Murtland (soon to become our Founding Executive Director), and a group of volunteers who wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. Hands of Hope Northwest officially began in 1992 in the basement of a house owned by College Church of the Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho, fondly dubbed by some as the "Rat Hole," and this house was used as our warehouse until 1999.
Global Medical
Aid Initiatives
In 1992, Hands of Hope Northwest shipped a 4-foot cube of medical equipment to Papua New Guinea, and in the same year, a group of Northwest Nazarene University students took 17 duffel bags of medical supplies on a mission trip to Bucharest, Romania.
Between 1993 to 1996, six small shipments went to Papua New Guinea, Swaziland, and Thailand, while several mission teams delivered supplies to Venezuela, El Salvador, and Costa Rica.
Between 1993 to 1996, six small shipments went to Papua New Guinea, Swaziland, and Thailand, while several mission teams delivered supplies to Venezuela, El Salvador, and Costa Rica.
Incorporating
Hands of Hope NW
In 1996, B. Edgar Johnson, the first Board President, helped incorporate Hands of Hope Northwest as a separate non-for-profit organization and Liz Murtland officially became the Founding Executive Director.
Liz forged countless relationships with medical staff in clinics and hospitals in impoverished communities around the world. This paved the way for many more shipments of medical supplies and equipment to the poorest peoples in dozens of countries. Donated equipment gave mobility to the disabled, medical supplies saved lives, and thousands of tons of valuable resources were saved from landfills. Liz was recognized as Citizen of the Year in 2010 by Mayor Tom Dale. She and her husband, Rich, served for 20 years until their retirement in 2011.
Liz forged countless relationships with medical staff in clinics and hospitals in impoverished communities around the world. This paved the way for many more shipments of medical supplies and equipment to the poorest peoples in dozens of countries. Donated equipment gave mobility to the disabled, medical supplies saved lives, and thousands of tons of valuable resources were saved from landfills. Liz was recognized as Citizen of the Year in 2010 by Mayor Tom Dale. She and her husband, Rich, served for 20 years until their retirement in 2011.
40' Container
Shipments Begin
By 1997, the growing ministry purchased a 40-foot storage container to be stored on College Church property. This began a series of 40-foot container shipments to multiple countries, starting with Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Mozambique.
Building a
Warehouse
From 1998 to 2003, storage shifted between many locations: Tiny Bellamy’s trailer, Dennis Harmon’s warehouse on Northside, Edmark Chevrolet's garage, Scales Unlimited, Super Thrift, and Holly Shopping Center. A sincere thank you to everyone who helped with the moves!
In 2003, with increased funding and a 50% donation from a generous anonymous donor, the ministry broke ground and built our present-day warehouse at 1201 S. Powerline Road in Nampa. Volunteers and local businesses helped construct a building with 5,000 square feet to house donated medical equipment and supplies as well as staff offices. We moved in on June 27 the same year and dedicated the building on September 21. Small and large shipments greatly increased thereafter.
In 2003, with increased funding and a 50% donation from a generous anonymous donor, the ministry broke ground and built our present-day warehouse at 1201 S. Powerline Road in Nampa. Volunteers and local businesses helped construct a building with 5,000 square feet to house donated medical equipment and supplies as well as staff offices. We moved in on June 27 the same year and dedicated the building on September 21. Small and large shipments greatly increased thereafter.
Warehouse
Site Dedication
B. Edgar Johnson, the first Board President of Hands of Hope Northwest, dedicated the site. He has since passed away and we have created a Memorial Endowment Fund in his name. The fund honors his contribution as a founding member of the Hands of Hope Northwest Board and for his service on many other Boards in our community.
Local Loan
Program
In 2004, Hands of Hope Northwest started the Local Loan Program to help area residents who could not afford to rent or buy medical equipment for home care. Former NNU professor Eula Tombaugh had a heart for the disabled in her community and operated the ministry out of her garage until the equipment could be stored in the Nampa warehouse in 2006. Eula passed away in 2017, and we still celebrate her vision and achievement today. We now have over 900 items in our inventory, and thousands of local community members have been able to borrow durable medical equipment thanks to Eula’s initiative. Former Board President B. Edgar Johnson, Eula Tombaugh, Liz Murtland, and former Board President Terrance Smith are shown in this photo.
Increase in
Missions Supplied
By 2005, mission team requests for medical supplies became much more frequent. We supplied 70 short-term mission trips between 2005 and 2011.
Todd Aebischer's
Impact
Todd Aebischer took over as the Executive Director in 2011 when Liz Murtland retired. He had just returned from the mission field with his wife, Connie, after Nazarene Mission Aviation closed down. A pilot and missionary, Todd brought valuable experience from serving overseas in poor communities.
Our New
Semi-Trailer
Todd Aebischer saw the addition of a new semi-trailer for the ministry to add to our existing truck. This enabled us to deliver more product and helped get our name out in the community.
Warehouse
Expansion
Also during Todd’s tenure, Hands of Hope Northwest was able to buy the neighboring property, thanks to the generosity of many donors, opening the way for an eventual larger distribution center.
And with the land behind the Ministry Center already donated, future expansion will be possible. That’s because nothing is impossible with the God we serve.
In 2012, Todd was recruited by the Nazarene Asia-Pacific Team and asked to return to Manila in the Philippines. There, he helped receive Hands of Hope Northwest shipments and sent back videos and photographs of our impact there.
And with the land behind the Ministry Center already donated, future expansion will be possible. That’s because nothing is impossible with the God we serve.
In 2012, Todd was recruited by the Nazarene Asia-Pacific Team and asked to return to Manila in the Philippines. There, he helped receive Hands of Hope Northwest shipments and sent back videos and photographs of our impact there.
David Ferdinand's
Innovative Ideas
In 2012, David Ferdinand stepped in to fill the gap as Interim Executive Director. His connections in the community in his former role as a public servant proved beneficial to Hands of Hope Northwest, as David opened doors to media coverage, introduced a new web site, and continues to volunteer his expertise in public relations.
Debbie Wheeler's
Legacy
In 2014, David graciously passed the baton to Debbie Wheeler. Her seven years’ experience with Hands of Hope Northwest, her missionary work in Asia, and her passion for medical ministry made her a wonderful fit for taking the lead. Debbie led the ministry for four and a half years, accomplishing much during her tenure. She opened new doors for shipments, increased the number of countries served to 74, helped raise greater awareness of the ministry in the community, and organized the Spring 2018 Tea for Hope fundraising event at the Chateau des Fleurs.
Todd Durbin's
Leadership
On Debbie's retirement in 2018, Todd Durbin became the next (and current) Executive Director. Todd was very familiar with Hands of Hope Northwest operations, had a great rapport with the volunteers, and had managed the finances for several years. Todd represents the ministry in multiple forums and is passionate about sharing our vision and goals to the broader community. He hopes to see the ministry grow to reach more people in need. He organized the Spring 2019 Brunch for Hope fundraising event at the Boise Centre and oversaw the parking lot expansion in 2019, adding 17 new parking spaces. In March 2020, he headed up the Idaho PPE Drive in Boise, and has brought the ministry through a rocky time during the Covid-19 pandemic. During his tenure to date, Todd has further increased the number of countries served and large shipments sent to countries in need.
81
Countries Served
$53M
Medical Aid
Distributed Annually
321
Missions Supplied
158
40' Container
Shipments Sent
Today
With your help,
We’ve provided medical relief for several million people around the world.
If the Hands of Hope Northwest story has inspired you, please consider a gift that will change lives. For only $15,000, we can send a container of medical equipment and supplies worth $150,000-300,000. Your financial donation is multiplied 15 times in value to those we help. For every $100 donated, we give away at least $1,500 of medical equipment and supplies to people in need.
Today
With your help,
We’ve provided medical relief for several million people around the world.
Want to get involved?
Volunteers from a variety of backgrounds and organizations serve every week, giving approximately 10,000 hours of their time every year. We have projects for everyone, from the young to the young at heart!