Our Cause

The Monroe County Diabetes Society was established in 1987 as a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization.

MCDS was organized by a group of individuals who wanted to make a difference in the lives of all diabetics in Monroe County regardless of their affluence or social standing. Each year through various fund raising efforts, grants and memorial donations, they assist individuals and other organizations to better the lives of diabetics in Monroe County.

Education is key to their organization. Every month they hold meetings to provide speakers to answer questions regarding nutrition, insurance coverage, foot care, eye care, research accomplishments, etc; this is done by numerous health care professionals who donate their time to our organization including family physicians, diabetic specialists, dietitians, pharmacists and others. Our local hospital provides ADA diabetic education classes for adults which we help support by providing the funds for those who cannot afford to attend otherwise.

Children's education can best be done by sending the kids to special diabetic camps. These camping programs teach the kids how to lead daily lives with diabetes and not be different from any of their friends. The children also find out they are not alone, there are many other kids just like themselves. The camps are all ADA approved and run by professionals who learn about the child from his/her family and physician ahead of time. Some of the children we send eventually help the camps as a counselor or mentor for younger children who have just been diagnosed. Each year they send 10 or more local children to these camps, at a cost of almost $5,500 last year.

Local diabetics are given immediate temporary health care assistance with any and sometimes all of the following medical supplies: a glucometer, test strips, lancets, needles, and prescriptions including insulin and oral medications. These are needed supplies for a one-month period of time until the individual can find permanent coverage through insurance or government programs such as Medicare or Medical Assistance. The cost to the organization to provide these supplies is almost $3,000.

All funds received go directly to assisting diabetics in Monroe County, all of their officers and staff are volunteers and their office space and supplies are donated by other local non-profit organizations such as ourselves.

J. Simpson Africa Lodge is proud to help out in this worthwhile endeavor and we consider it to be one of our pet projects in 2010.