When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, it withdrew from Mongolia, taking 40 percent of the economy with it.

“At that time, you had what you had in your hands and that was it,” said Meredith Potts, executive director of the Flagstaff International Relief Effort (F.I.R.E).

This poverty was particularly difficult because of Mongolia’s cold climate. Ulan Bataar, the capital of Mongolia, is the coldest capital in the world.

Aiding this area is the purpose of the non-profit F.I.R.E. David Edwards, a Flagstaff photojournalist, founded the project in 1993 when he began showing slideshows detailing conditions in Mongolia and gathering winter clothes from his friends, which he would then hand-deliver to impoverished Mongolians.

“Winter clothes can actually save lives [there],” Potts said.

Over the next 15 years, F.I.R.E. delivered over 60 tons of clothing and has started to distribute educational and medical resources as well, providing 80 computers, 6,000 English books, $610,000 worth of medical supplies and training to more than three dozen hospitals and clinics.

“People have cried. [They give] lots and lots of hugs, lots and lots of amazing smiles, endless amounts of appreciation, because we actually give these gifts to the people,” Potts said.

The organization has been supported by the clothing donations from local thrift stores, used boxes from the local Eddie Bauer, volunteering and monetary contributions from the Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy (FALA), the Lyons Club and many other groups.

However, F.I.R.E. recently announced they have had to end their clothing distribution project because of lack of funding. There will be one final delivery of clothing in 2009, and the organization will continue its Dulaan Project, in which hand-knit items from around the world are sent to F.I.R.E. and then distributed with the rest of the clothing. Now these items will be delivered with computers and other educational supplies. 

“The expense was enormous — our warehouse costs here in Flagstaff, and the fuel in Mongolia, and the shipping charge in Mongolia,” Potts said.

Furthermore, F.I.R.E. did not receive grant money for this project.

“We’re hoping to continue to maintain our private donor base, but to increase our grant-funded base with our new focus,” Potts said.

That new focus would be an emphasis on delivering medical and educational training and supplies. Aside from being more fundable, F.I.R.E. chose this emphasis because it seemed to provide charity that was more empowering and had more longevity.

From Sept. 29 to Oct. 10, F.I.R.E., working in conjunction with the Northern Arizona Volunteer Medical and Surgical Team, will carry out a surgical trip, in which they will provide Mongolian surgeons with resources and training.

The team will include Dr. Kelly Reber, a podiatrist, Dr. John Durham, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hands and Janice Reber, an oncology nurse and a neo-natal nurse practitioner. F.I.R.E. will be coordinating training and supply distribution through local hospitals and clinics.

Currently, there is only one orthopedic hospital in Mongolia. Therefore, Mongolians who live in the countryside (which includes about two-thirds of the population) have little access to orthopedic treatment, meaning relatively benign injuries, such as broken bones, often go untreated, leading to lifelong disabilities.

Kelly Reber, president and founder of the volunteer team, and his wife Janice Reber, have been carrying out medical trips throughout developing countries for approximately 15 years. They became interested in F.I.R.E. when they saw the organization’s documentary One Steppe at a Time at the Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival in 2007. 

“When we saw the documentary about Mongolia, we were interested in helping them [F.I.R.E.] extend the medical services they wish to provide,” Janice Reber said. “We would like to develop a relationship with [Mongolian hospitals] where there is sharing of knowledge.”

The group visited Mongolia in 2007 to see what the country needed most. This approach was adapted from F.I.R.E.’s model for clothing distribution, in which the organization met with social workers to give the clothing to the Mongolians who were most in need of it.

After 15 years of medical trips, the Rebers continued to express a sense of unadulterated humanitarian zeal for their upcoming mission.

“To be able to go and do pure medicine just for the joy of seeing it improve other people’s lives,” Kelly Reber said. “That’s about as good as it gets for our profession.” 

Currently, F.I.R.E. is in need of computers, office volunteers, a Dulaan volunteer and 100 square feet of space to  sort and pack Dulaan items. 

To contact F.I.R.E., call (928) 779-2288.