By Sonya Yencer | Vice President
With every day that passes, we are one step closer to funding another full container of All Terrain Wheelchairs (ATWs). Week by week, the details begin to fall into place; important details like finding an in-country storage space as well as executing upgrades for the next shipment.
We are pleased to announce that St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children (Port-au-Prince, Haiti) has once again agreed to serve as our storage and distribution point for the next container. Safely storing and securing 100 – 120 wheelchairs in the heart of Port-au-Prince is no small task and we are very appreciative of our partners at St. Vincent’s for their cooperation. They truly understand the importance of these chairs and getting them into the hands of people with disabilities in their country.
As for the wheelchairs themselves, we are constantly improving their structure and functionality based on the input of current ATW recipients. Working directly with the manufacturer, two of the biggest improvements for the next shipment will be airless tires and sealable pockets to secure personal items.
Airless tires are the biggest upgrade on the new chairs. The intense Haitian heat often makes the interior rubber tubes brittle, causing cracks and leaks. This type of tire will eliminate flat tubes, improving the durability of the tires themselves, while also eliminating the need for pumps or tire patches.
With your support, we will be able to fill that shipping container and bring the gift of mobility to Haiti again. Thank you!
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