The Rotary Club of St. Joseph-Benton Harbor will welcome an international guest speaker on Monday.
Club International Chair Lynn Kellogg tells us Graviel Nuel Jacobo is from the Dominican Republic and works to provide prosthetic limbs to those in need.
“In the Dominican Republic, there are many amputees who have lost limbs,” Kellogg said. “It’s very common to have mistakes and so working conditions are such that limb loss is fairly common, and the traditional treatment is to amputate and send folks home.”
Kellogg says Jacobo lost his own leg as a child but was able to get a prosthetic and begin advocating for others. He’s been on his Building Lives USA Tour around the United States to raise money and awareness.
“[He’s] offering an opportunity to donate for the purchase of limbs. There are 800-some people waiting, and they really can’t afford to pursue this on their own.”
Kellogg says it costs about $600 per limb in the Dominican Republic, and Jacobo is hoping to make a huge dent in his 800-person waiting list with the tour.
He’ll address the Rotary at the Lynn and Freeborn Kellogg Campus for Creative Aging in St. Joseph at noon. You can also donate to the cause online.
