Frequently Asked Questions

• General
• Donations
• Volunteering
• Mobile Dental

Here's a list of the most common questions we receive each week. Please e-mail or call us at (800) 959. 4325 if your question is not included here.

1. What are your office hours?


• Tigard, Oregon Office: Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Redmond, Washington Office: Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.


2. What are the hours of operation for the REAL. LIFE. Exhibit? How can I schedule a tour?
   
   
   • Weekday hours: Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. by reservation only. 
   • Weekend and evening hours: Varies by month. See schedule »
   • You can schedule a tour on our website or call (503) 624.1216.


3. Do you serve all people, regardless of their religious beliefs?



Yes. We care for everyone in need. Aid recipients are not asked to participate in faith-based activities in order to receive medical care or supplies.



4. Is Medical Teams International sponsored by a certain church or denomination?
   



No. We are not affiliated with any group—we're an independent nonprofit organization. Many individuals and organizations support us, including churches.

1. What kind of donations do you accept?



We accept many types of gifts. Visit our donation page to learn more.We DO NOT accept food, clothes or personal prescriptions.



2. How can I donate medicines, supplies or equipment?



Refer to our Medical Supply Needs List to see what we accept. Check the expiration date on dated items. We cannot accept items that expire within 1 year or previously opened containers.



3. Are my donations tax-deductible?



Yes, your donations are tax-deductible as allowable by U.S. law. We are a 501(c)3 organization. We acknowledge every donation with a receipt for your tax records. If you made your contribution online, please check your e-mail box including your spam / junk folders for a gift acknowledgment message. If you happen to misplace your original copy, please call (503) 624.1000 to request a replacement.



4. Who can I speak to about my donation?


• Cash donation questions? Please call (800) 959.4325 and ask for Gift Processing.
• Medical supply/equipment questions? Contact our Medical Supply staff at (503) 624.1018.


5. I would like to change my credit card for my monthly gift donation. Can I do this online?



For your security, we do not save your financial information on our Web site. Please call our Gift Processing Officer, Linda O'Brien at (800) 959.4325 ext. 1003. You may also e-mail her your name and telephone number at lobrien@medicalteams.org and she will get back to you promptly. Please do not send any financial information in your e-mail.



6. Do you accept used medical equipment?



Yes. We accept equipment in good condition. Some of the most common donations are walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, walking canes, nebulizers and CPAC machines. Please direct questions about other equipment to our Medical Supply staff or call (503) 624.1018.



7. Do you accept personal unused prescription medication?



No. We cannot accept personal prescriptions, even if they are unopened. However, we do accept pharmaceuticals from manufacturers.

We DO accept over-the-counter medicines from individuals, as long as they are unopened and have an expiration date at least 12 months away.



8. Do you accept vehicle donations?



Yes, we DO accept vehicle donations through v-Dac. Click here for more information.

1. I'd like to volunteer internationally. Who do I talk to?



Visit our International Volunteer webpage to learn about opportunities and requirements. Call our International Volunteer Hotline at (800) 959.4325, ext. 1201 or e-mail us.



2. I'd like volunteer at your Oregon, Washington or Minnesota offices. Who do I talk to?



Review our USA-based volunteer opportunities page. Call our Volunteer Hotline at (800) 959.4325, ext. 3336, for more information.



3. Do you have student internship positions at headquarters?



Yes. Medical Teams International offers unpaid student internships for credit or non-credit in the administration, international programs, development and communications departments. Check our current openings.



4. What's the difference between a Disaster Response volunteer and a Community Development volunteer?



Disaster Response volunteers respond to emergency situations like natural disasters, wars and other desperate circumstances. Teams typically serve for 1 month. These volunteers must be licensed/certified medical personnel with significant developing-nations experience. Our staff hand-select team members based on their experience and the needs in the field. Read more about our Disaster Response work

Community Development volunteers plan their teams several months in advance. They work to build capacity in the community and often hold training seminars for local health professionals. These teams pay their own way and work with our local partners. We review each of our applicant's credentials and send volunteers whose skills match the needs of our partners.



5. Do I need to be a Christian to volunteer?



No. If you can support our mission, we welcome you to volunteer.



6. Do you take naturopaths?



No. We are not currently sending naturopaths because our partners are not requesting this specialty.



7. I filled out the volunteer application, but haven't been placed on a team yet.



When you know which team you are interested in, please contact the appropriate team coordinator so they can talk with you about potential placement on the team. Please review our current team openings.



8. How long do volunteers serve?



Typically, our teams serve between 1 - 4 weeks. We do have some placements for 3 - 6 months, depending on the project.



9. Do I have to speak the local language?



No. Although speaking a local language is helpful, it is not required. We DO provide translators when necessary and/or when possible.



10. What measures do you take to ensure that I'll be safe?



Volunteer safety is our top priority.

• We require that every volunteer complete our online International Volunteer Orientation before departing. This course provides all of the necessary information for volunteer service abroad. 
• We also require volunteers to review a country-specific safety manual before their departure.
• We recommend our volunteers register with their national Embassy before departing in case of an emergency.
• Our country offices and local partners each have a security plan in place.


11. Do you take unlicensed students?



Yes, but only to serve as a lay worker. We typically send unlicensed medical or dental students on teams with licensed professionals.

1. My tooth hurts, can I get an appointment on the Mobile Dental van?



For more information, please call our Mobile Dental hotlines. For the Portland area, dial (503) 624.1026 and (425) 284.1950 for Washington.

Our program provides urgent care dental services to low-income patients who lack dental insurance or any realistic way to pay for the care they need. We typically do not provide dentures, bridges, root canals, cleanings or other specialty services.



2. Where's the dental van today?



We operate dental clinics throughout Oregon, Washington and Minnesota. Our vans visit many different site partner locations, but we do not publish a schedule since most dental clinics are only open to the patients already working with each site partner. We do not schedule appointments from our offices. Please call our Dental Hotline at (800) 959.4325, ext. 1026, to receive more information.