Sisters shop aids medical charity CardioStart

Sisters Country has a new resource for quality resale items -and shopping there helps people in need of medical help around the world.

CardioStart Resale, located in the Three Wind Shopping Center in Sisters is operated by Shari Maguire, who conceived of the idea as a means of supporting the non-profit medical charity CardioStart.

CardioStart is operated by cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Aubyn Marath, whom Maguire met through a mutual interest in aviation.

CardioStart, which incorporated in 1994, is an international humanitarian organization dedicated to assisting children and adults with heart disease.

In response to requests from countries lacking heart and lung surgical and other specialist facilities, volunteer teams conduct overseas missions utilizing medical, technical and non-medical expertise throughout the world.

No fees are charged for any services provided.

CardioStart maintains fully functioning, transportable equipment for the performance of pediatric and adult heart operations and supports other surgical and medical specialties to function effectively.

In assisting hospitals with varying levels of development, with each visit, attention is given to carefully matching donations according to the local specific needs.

"We're a typically poor charity," said Dr. Morath during a visit to Sisters last week. "Raising funds for programs overseas is not easy."

Using a resale store as a revenue source was Maguire's idea.

"She put a bee in my bonnet about starting a thrift store," Dr. Marath said.

His initial reaction was tepid at best, but Maguire convinced him of the viability of such a venture.

"We're going to add another thematic element to the thrift store that is unique," Dr. Marath explained.

CardioStart Resale will feature products and crafts produced in the countries the charity serves -scarves made of Peruvian alpaca wool or silks from Southeast Asia. Mission volunteers will be asked to bring back items from the countries they visit.

Donations and volunteers are eagerly requested. Seniors are particularly welcome to serve.

"They just need to come by the shop between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.," Maguire said.

"I have an incentive plan for those who donate," Maguire said. "You bring us donations, we give you credits towards your next purchase in the store. The volunteers can take whatever they want home at no charge -but need to bring something back of equal value so Cardiostart can still benefit.

"We will have a Western section, antique low-end-price section, vintage wear, household goods -all year long, not just periodically."

CardioStart has provided assistance in Albania, Bolivia, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Jamaica, Kurdistan, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Rumania, Serbia, Ukraine and Vietnam.

The charity operates at a high standard of care "in some of the most austere and substandard settings," Dr. Marath said.

Maguire plans to volunteer for a future mission, but for now she's helping by setting up a place where Sisters Country shoppers can help provide lifesaving care overseas. To find out about volunteering or donating call 541-419-7017.

For more information visit www.cardiostart.org.