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About Us

Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach partners with organizations, hospitals, and clinics around the world with the shared goal to improve health outcomes for individuals and communities.

Four female Mission Outreach colleagues work at desks Four female Mission Outreach colleagues work at desks

Mission Outreach also assist with capacity building to build health systems, create economic opportunities, and protect the environment.

Founded in 2002 by the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, Mission Outreach exists to improve the health and wellness of people across the globe through the responsible donation of medical supplies, equipment, and support services. As a Medical Supply and Equipment Recovery Organization (MSRO), we collect medical supplies and equipment from hospitals across the Midwest and make them available to health care facilities in low-resource areas around the world. Our team also provides the support services necessary to ensure environmental sustainability and economic opportunity for our recipient communities.

Located in Springfield, Illinois, we have 55,000 sq ft. of warehouse space and rely on more than 300 volunteers annually to sort, pack, and inventory medical supplies. Our biomedical engineering department tests and manages 700 pieces of medical equipment (with corresponding supplies) each year – and we want to do more.

We dream of a world where all people - near and far - have access to quality health care and an equal opportunity to live a healthy, fulfilling life.

Staff & Board of Directors

Our wonderful staff can assist you in placing an order, volunteering in our warehouse or contacting us about a donation.

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Our International Partners

Mission Outreach has provided aid to over 95 countries worldwide.

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How are we able to collect and distribute such a vast amount of medical supplies and equipment?

Each week, Mission Outreach drivers arrive at hospital docks throughout the Midwest to gather life-saving supplies and equipment collected and donated by doctors, nurses, and staff working in the 80 hospitals and 18 clinics who partner with us. 

Mission Outreach donors, who provide monetary and product donations, rely on our proven stewardship. More than 95 percent of our annual revenue goes toward our program services.

To maintain a high standard for our inventory process, we work within the guidelines set forth by the Catholic Health Association of the United States and the World Health Organization’s guidelines for international medical donations. We do not send expired supplies or broken equipment into the mission field. Our thorough inventory and packing process ensures we only send quality supplies and equipment in perfect working condition. To learn more about our standards, view the MSRO Code of Conduct.

From our dedicated volunteer corps of 1,200 who work in our warehouse to our medical partners serving in the mission field, you will find goodness, courage, commitment and faith.

Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach, a ministry of HSHS, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with one main office and two warehouses in Springfield, Illinois.

Infographic of Mission Outreach's contributions around the world
Sister Ann speaks to our Mission Outreach volunteers

Our History

As the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis had humble beginnings of mission work in Illinois in 1875, in we too began on a small scale working from a garage on the grounds of St. Francis Convent, Springfield, in 2002. However, by 2006 our reputation for excellent service had created a momentum and a demand that required a 23,000 square foot facility to accommodate volunteers, staff, medical supplies and equipment, and distribution operations. 

Today, we occupy 47,000 square feet to allow storage and rapid distribution of millions of dollars worth of medical supplies and equipment each year.

Boxes of donated items are stacked up to the ceiling in the large Mission Outreach warehouse

Our Operations

Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach consist of four interconnected programs:

  • Medical Supply Recovery
  • Volunteer Services
  • Biomedical Equipment Recovery
  • International Partner Logistics and Support Services

To maintain a high standard for our inventory process, we work within the guidelines set forth by the Catholic Health Association of the United States and the World Health Organization’s guidelines for international medical donations. We do not send expired supplies or broken equipment to our international partners. Our thorough inventory and packing process ensures we only send quality supplies and equipment in perfect working condition.

From our dedicated volunteer corps of 1,200 who work in our warehouse to our medical partners serving in low-resource areas around the world, you will find goodness, courage, commitment and faith.