NJ Nonprofit Provides Lifesaving Medical Care to Kids Around the World

In a new era of debilitating cuts to international aid programs by the federal government, the role of private charitable organizations has only grown more prominent in recent months. Enter Healing the Children NJ, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides medical care for free in Jersey and around the world.

Since the 1980s, the organization has maintained a three-pronged approach for this task. First, they partner with food banks and other charities to provide anything from toothbrushes to specific medical equipment for Jersey kids. The recipients, often referred from school nurses, pediatricians and county officials, typically have complex disabilities and come from low-income backgrounds.

At the same time, the nonprofit’s “International Inbound” program flies in children from around the world to live with host families while they receive medical treatment. Finally, they’ll send medical teams abroad to countries like Peru and Kenya to conduct pro-bono surgeries. No matter the country or medical issue, the organization knows its patients all have similar struggles.

“Along their journey, a lot of people are going to tell them no,” says executive director Tricia McNamara. “Just being able to say yes is very rewarding.” Despite cultural and language barriers, volunteers and patients usually find an instant connection. “The trust and the gratitude is there from day one,” McNamara adds.

On their most recent outing in the Dominican Republic, nurses entertained the children with toys and coloring books as surgeons worked to make sure they and their parents felt comfortable. “The reward you get as an individual for seeing each one of these kids smile, seeing them breathe better, hear better, it’s hard to put into words,” says Mike Tavill, a Shrewsbury otolaryngologist who volunteered on the trip.

Tavill reiterates that the work of Healing The Children NJ and organizations like it has only become more gravely important in recent months. “It’s more important now than it than it ever was, and will continue to be, at least for the foreseeable future,” he says. “It’s going to fall more and more upon the private sector to do this work in order to improve the quality of life for so many populations around the world. And we can’t do enough ourselves.”

The organization primarily relies on private and corporate donors, meaning funding is always an ongoing endeavor. To donate, visit htcnj.org.

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