Joni and Friends Brings Awareness to the Need for Mobility During Wheelchair Collection Month

By |Published On: March 1, 2020|Categories: Press Release, Wheels For The World|

Agoura Hills, CA – May 27, 2020:

Donated wheelchairs are restored and provided to people with disabilities around the world.

Joni and Friends, the leading global ministry serving people impacted by disability, is celebrating Wheelchair Collection Month to bring awareness to the need for mobility equipment around the world.

More than 75 million people worldwide are in need of a wheelchair, yet only 5-15% have access to one.* Throughout the month of March, Joni and Friends is hosting a nationwide campaign to collect wheelchairs and other mobility devices for their Wheels for the World program. Wheelchair drives are taking place across the country, culminating with an event hosted by the Joni and Friends Headquarters in Southern California on March 27th.

“The need for wheelchairs is immense,” said Jason Holden, Director of Wheels for the World at Joni and Friends. “Tens of thousands of wheelchairs are thrown out each year across the United States, while more than 70 million people around the world are in need of one. In less-resourced countries, a person with limited mobility is often relegated to a back bedroom with no access to attend school, go to work, or be part of their community. But the gift of a wheelchair changes everything – a wheelchair literally lifts someone out of the dirt and into a seat of dignity and opportunity.”

The Joni and Friends Wheels for the World program was founded by Joni Eareckson Tada in 1994. By the close of 2020, Joni and Friends will have provided more than 200,000 wheelchairs and Bibles to people impacted by disability around the globe. This month, the ministry is encouraging everyone to donate used manual wheelchairs and other mobility devices to Wheels for the World for a tax-deductible receipt. Donated items will be restored to like-new condition and distributed by a team of physical therapists to people who could otherwise never afford a wheelchair.

“We hope Wheelchair Collection Month will bring more awareness to the mobility crisis around the world. Instead of ending in a landfill, a wheelchair can be donated, restored, and given to someone in desperate need. Right in your community, you can make a difference. Get involved by bringing a wheelchair to a local wheelchair drive or join our team of volunteers to help collect wheelchairs around your community,” Holden concluded.

Joni and Friends accepts donations of the following mobility devices:

  • Manual wheelchairs, all types and sizes
  • Aluminum walkers, crutches, and canes
  • Wheelchair footrests
  • Other wheelchair parts and trays
  • Wheelchair seat cushions
  • New crutch and armpit pads, hand grips, and foot tips 

About Joni and Friends: For more than 40 years, Joni and Friends has provided the hope of the Gospel and practical care to people living with disability around the globe. Ministry programs include Joni’s HouseWheels for the World™Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training. Joni and Friends also delivers daily inspirational media through radio programs and podcasts.

Media Contact:
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