Knights of Columbus Newsletter Vol. 3

this issue • • • • • •

Veterans / USA Philippines Mexico Holy Land Vietnam Kenya

Answering Prayers with the Gift of Mobility Florida PSD Bob Read greets Nguyen Thi Tinh in Ba Ria, Vietnam

Left: Form 100 filled out during a Wheelchair Sunday at St. Joseph, Nipomo, CA Right: SK Jarred Barrios fills out information cards at a Wheelchair Sunday drive in Fairfield, CA

Wheelchair Sunday

Our Mission The American Wheelchair Mission is a non-profit organization with a goal to deliver brand new, free wheelchairs and mobility aids to physically disabled children, teens and adults throughout the world who are without mobility or the means to acquire a wheelchair. The American

Wheelchair

Mission will continue to change the lives of entire families with the gifts of hope, dignity, freedom

The most successful fund raising event for the delivery of wheelchairs is a “Wheelchair Sunday” parish drive. Please visit the Knights of Columbus page of our website at www.amwheelchair.org to download the “Wheelchair Sunday” booklet for the complete instructions on how to conduct a “Wheelchair Sunday” parish drive.

These parish drives are also the most successful membership tool you will ever experience. After seeing our video during Mass and hearing our presentation, parishioners will have a new understanding of the charitable work being done around the world by the Knights of Columbus.

We then invite the gentlemen to join us, and the rest is done by personal contact outside at the information tables.

You will change lives with the delivery of wheelchairs, and you will increase membership in your council.

and independence.

It is easier than a pancake breakfast!

The Need

Since 2007, Knights across the U.S. have been having “Wheelchair Sunday” parish drives to raise funds for the delivery of wheelchairs. These drives have sponsored tens of thousands of wheelchairs to the Bahamas, Chile, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, the Holy Land, Honduras, Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, Vietnam, and to Veterans across the United States, while adding hundreds of new Knights to the councils involved.

We estimate more than 100 million people worldwide are in need of a wheelchair but cannot afford one.

Our gift

immediately changes the lives of entire families by answering prayers and making true.

dreams

come

Please visit our website to watch videos of Knights delivering wheelchairs around the world, read articles or donate.

For more information or to mail donations: Dan Moberg Director of Public Education 2600 E. Seltice Way, Suite A-172 Post Falls, Idaho 83854 USA dmoberg@amwheelchair.org (208) 457-0745 American Wheelchair Mission

$150 Sponsors the delivery of a brand new wheelchair The

Our Program

wheelchair

deliv-

ered by the American

The American Wheelchair Mission is a non-profit organization that delivers free wheelchairs to children, teens and adults without mobility or the means to acquire a wheelchair.

Since 2003, Knights of Columbus have sponsored the delivery of more than 45,000 wheelchairs around the world to people in dire need of mobility.

We deliver brand new, high quality wheelchairs by entire sea containers.

The wheelchairs we deliver in 5 sizes (12, 14, 16, 18 & 20 inch seat widths) would sell for over $500 in a medical supply store, but because we purchase them in bulk and ship them by 100 to 280 wheelchair containers from the factories, directly to the country of destination, we can do this at an average price of $150 each.

Wheelchair

Mission

would sell for more than $500 in a medical supply store.

Yet because

we purchase wheelchairs directly from the manufacturer, and ship them 100 to 280 wheelchairs at a time by ocean freight containers

directly

to

the country of destination, we can deliver this $500

wheelchair

with

For entities interested in delivering an entire container of wheelchairs to a specific country or local destination, a gift of $16,500 will deliver a shipping container of 100 pneumatic, mountain bike or 110 solid tire wheelchairs to a country specified by the donor, from our list of approved destination countries. A gift of $42,000 will deliver a container of 260 pneumatic, mountain bike tire or 280 solid tire wheelchairs. A logo or short text of the donor’s choice will be stitched onto the back of each wheelchair when sponsored by container. At retail, these containers of wheelchairs are valued at $55,000 and $140,000. (For special sizes or delivery locations, costs may vary)

each $150 donation we

The Wheelchairs we deliver allow children to go to school for the first time, adults to go to work to provide for their families and the elderly to get out of a bed they may have been confined to for years at a time. We are answering the prayers of entire families.

distributions around the

Over 100 million people worldwide need a wheelchair but cannot afford one!

by the gift of a wheel-

Our gift delivers Hope, Dignity, Freedom and Independence.

receive.

VISIT OUR SITE Amwheelchair.org On our website you will see videos of wheelchair world, photos of people and their families who had their lives changed chair, and stories of our mission

that

touches

lives in a very tangible

We estimate that each wheelchair delivered changes and improves an average of 10 lives!

and immediate way.

Since 2007, Knights across the U.S. have been having “Wheelchair Sunday” parish drives to raise funds for the delivery of wheelchairs. These drives have sponsored tens of thousands of wheelchairs around the world, while adding hundreds of new Knights to the councils involved.

Join Us!

For more information, to watch videos and download the “Wheelchair Sunday” handbook, please visit the Knights of Columbus page of our website at: www.amwheelchair.org.

1

email Dan Moberg at:

www.amwheelchair.org

Join us on a wheelchair distribution trip – Please dmoberg@amwheelchair.org for details.

Helping Veterans and Neighbors Across the USA

In the fraternal year 2013-14 Knights in the following states have either received or sponsored the delivery of ocean freight containers of wheelchairs into their local communities to help fill the immediate needs.

Knights of Columbus support our nation’s veterans every day of the year. Local councils help families in need in their own communities, and sometimes in different cities and states.

The simple gift of mobility helps veterans get around their homes, and it helps every member of their family. Often, a veteran will have a heavy electric wheelchair, but needs a basic mobility wheelchair for moving in their home, or just to and from their car. Sometimes a spouse or other family member needs a wheelchair, and we are happy to be there to help.

Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, Texas (San Antonio, TX Knights sponsored a container of 110 wheelchairs and 100 canes to the Edmundite Missions in Selma, AL and 280 wheelchairs to the new CRIT USA center in San Antonio), Virginia and Washington.

A young man named Joshua Edmonson received a wheelchair from the Amarillo, TX Knights and Columbiettes, who made his life easier while he bravely battles serious health issues.

Knights are also helping other people with mobility challenges.

Retired priests and nuns are getting new wheelchairs, lowincome families in local parishes are getting help, and the families of children with medical needs don’t have to worry about buying an expensive wheelchair.

There is a story attached to the delivery of each wheelchair, and the lives changed multiply by the number of family and friends.

We are able to deliver hope, dignity and independence into the lives of our brothers and sisters. We can answer the prayers of people who have

American Wheelchair Mission

Knights and their Catholic communities across the USA are changing lives around the world, and more right here at home than any other destination.

Thank you!

The Florida Knights have given wheelchairs to WWII vets taking the “Honor Flight” from Lakeland, FL to visit the WWII memorial in Washington, DC. Many vets require wheelchairs, and the Knights are proud to provide them.

Yes, our department of Veterans Affairs does a great job taking care of those who served, but with budgets tight, the Knights and the American Wheelchair Mission can be the answer to many immediate needs.

2

lost their mobility, and give a gift to every member of their family.

San Antonio Knights delivered 100 wheelchairs to residents of Selma, AL

Returning “Honor Flight” vets were the celebrities in Lakeland, FL

Florida Knights provided wheelchairs for the WWII Vets’ “Honor Flight” to the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC

Residents of Selma, AL shared stories of their lives with visitng Knights and their families

Many of the vets needed a wheelchair to visit the WWII memorial on their “Honor Flight”

Vets like to show the Knights how agile they are in their new wheelchairs

Joshua Edmonson received a wheelchair from the Knights of Amarillo, TX

Vets returning to Lakeland, FL from the trip to Washington, DC received a warm welcome

Karen is a Navy veteran who uses a wheelchair every day

3

www.amwheelchair.org

Extremes in the Philippines work with them in the course of our mission.

There are many extremes in the Philippines. The extreme poverty that grips millions of people around the urban centers of the country, the extreme storms and typhoons that wash away lives, homes and livelihoods, and the extreme faith held closely in the hearts of the people, that their prayers will be answered for a better life.

These are the realities that relief organizations like the American Wheelchair Mission deal with every day of the year. We are a very small part of filling the overall needs, but every donation coming from caring people is most welcome and appreciated.

4

There are very generous families and organizations working throughout the Philippines to help the poor. Owners of companies deliver food to those in need, and basic medical care is provided by doctors not drawing a salary or being paid for their services.

These are the kinds of heroes who silently live the Gospel in their every day lives and do what they can to make a difference. We are thankful to

American Wheelchair Mission

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Community in Henderson, Nevada and Knights of Columbus in California and Texas sponsored the delivery of more than 1,200 wheelchairs and other mobility devices to the Catholic diocese of Occidental Mindoro, and the archdioceses of Davao and Caceres. These were distributed throughout the Philippines in conjunction with the Compassionate Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, Ateneo de Davao University and the diocese of Occidental Mindoro.

The islands of Mindoro, Mindanao and Luzon were visited

by Knights of Columbus from California, Nevada and Florida, and Fr. Vicente “Vic” Panaligan of St. Francis of Assisi who is also a Knight. Fr. Vic said, “It is a blessing for me to represent our parish and all the generous people who have made the delivery of these wheelchairs possible.”

He continued, “The bishops, priests and local Knights of Columbus are all helping us reach the people in real need of our help.”

The distribution team delivered wheelchairs at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in San Jose, Mindoro, at the Ateneo de Davao University and the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Naga

City, as well as directly to homes of the needy on each of the three islands.

The lives of many resilient people are back to normal after the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan in November of 2013, but the relief organizations on the ground still have much work to be done.

To support ongoing efforts of serving the poor in the Philippines please visit Catholic Relief Services at CRS.org – go to “Where we serve” click “Asia” – click “Philippines.”

There are many organizations that will take your donations for the Philippine people, but Catholic Relief Services is one of the very best. They will make sure your donation gets through the red tape, and directly helps the people in need.

Liaza was so happy to get her new wheelchair

Archbishop Rolando Tirona of Naga City, Philippines, delivering wheelchairs to a group of needy parishioners

Father Vic of St. Francis of Assisi in Henderson, NV with the nursing students from Ateneo de Davao University in Davao City

Sister Paula Vargas runs the retirement home for nuns in Naga City

These kids all volunteered to help with the wheelchair distribution in San Jose, Mindoro

Archbishop Rolando Tirona blesses Tesalonica Parena with local Naga City Knight, Pete Real

5

www.amwheelchair.org

Saving Children in Mexico

The Teleton Rehabilitation Centers for Children throughout Mexico are saving the lives of children who have been disabled by diseases from birth or injury. Through their televised “Teleton” each year since 1996, they have raised the funds to build 23 of the most advanced and beautiful centers in Mexico, and have established their first “CRIT USA” center in San Antonio, Texas.

The combination of medical and holistic therapies are allowing children to live happier and more productive lives. Parents are directly involved in the therapies at the CRIT centers, and continue the process at home.

This approach is allowing children with afflictions such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and other conditions to live better lives, and makes it easier for parents to care for them.

6

is approximately $100, and most families just cannot afford it. Since 2005, CRIT centers have received thousands of wheelchairs donated by Knights of Columbus, allowing children to go to school, and relieving the parents of the need to carry their child everywhere they go.

Physical therapists tell us the exercise a child gets by moving themselves in a wheelchair is very good for their upper body muscles and it serves as a release of energy that all children have an abundance of.

distribution in Guanajuato, MX, the American Wheelchair Mission team visited an outdoor market and found one of the kids who had just received a wheelchair several hours earlier. This was the first time his mom was able to take him to her small clothing stand at the city market where she sells the clothes she makes. He was very happy to be there to help his mom and see all the people.

The gift of wheelchairs to the patients at the CRIT centers is getting the most needed assistance directly to the families in need, and they The ability for a child to go are very, very grateful. outside and play with their siblings is also a very important part of their mental well being, and going to school for the first time after receiving a wheelchair is a life changing experience.

The ease of transport a parent gets with a wheelchair means that children can go more places like church, the market, or just on errands because they are easier to move around. During many conversations with parents carrying large teenagers, we have been told the wheelOne of the most common chair is an answer to their needs of the families bring- prayers, and the smile on ing their children to the CRIT their child’s face is priceless centers is a wheelchair. The to them. minimum purchase price for Jesus, 14, had to be carried by his a used wheelchair in Mexico After a recent wheelchair mom everywhere he went

American Wheelchair Mission

Rodrigo Lopez has a new friend in Guanajuato, Mexico

No words are necessary for this boy to tell us how happy he is

There are currently twenty-three world class CRIT centers in Mexico

Luis has a very bright outlook on life

CRIT staff work with children in all areas of learning skills

Chuy Santos, 6, loves his brand new wheelchair

Jesus really likes his new mode of transportation

7 www.amwheelchair.org

A Path of Peace in Israel is a considerable population of Israeli citizens who are of Palestinian Christian descent, and many are in the position of needing a wheelchair.

Since 2010 the American Wheelchair Mission has distributed several thousand wheelchairs in Israel and the Palestinian territories of Israel.

The trip is really a pilgrimage to one of the most wonderful places on earth. Within the walls of the old city of Jerusalem we visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Western Wall, and some of the most memorable sites in the history of our world. Traveling north we stay in Tiberius on the Sea of Galilee and visit sites such as the Mount of Beatitudes, the site of the Miracle of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes in Tabgha, St. Peter’s home in Capharnaum, Mount Tabor and the Golan Heights.

We stay in Haifa and Tel Aviv with beautiful views of the Mediterranean, and we visit people who are excited about us bringing wheelchairs.

8

From Tiberius we are a short drive from Cana and Nazareth where we deliver wheelchairs to individual homes with Fr. Francis Maria and the nuns of the Franciscan Wedding Church in Cana. There

American Wheelchair Mission

The Tennessee and Texas Knights of Columbus sponsored our most recent container of 280 wheelchairs.

Tennessee PSD Bill Wicke and his wife Janet lead the team in the giving of wheelchairs.

Our first distribution in Jerusalem was to the “Princess Basma Center for Disabled Children,” in association with Caritas Jerusalem.

From there we traveled throughout the city with Rabbis Yossi Swerdlov and Menachem Kutner of the “Chabad Terror Victims Project,” bringing much needed wheelchairs into the homes of retired police officers and military personnel who were injured in the line of duty.

Wheelchairs were delivered in the northern cities of Nahariya, Nesher and Haifa, and six of the recipients in nursing homes were Holocaust survivors from Romania and other countries in Eastern Europe.

We have always experienced great relationships with people working together to help those in need of mobility.

From our purely humanitarian perspective, the rhetoric spewed out by the political

machines on both sides of the border does not originate in the hearts of the great majority of the people in Israel.

There is reason to be optimistic about the future of working to help the physically disabled residents of Israel. Wheelchairs are very expensive and hard to acquire for people who are not wealthy, so our gift makes a substantial impact on their ability to have a new start, and a new life. Hope for the future may prove to be the best path for lasting peace.

Tennessee PSD Bill Wicke is thanked

by Rafi Mazliah, 76, in Haifa, Israel

Saleem Grayeb of Cana receives a blessing from Fr. Francis Maria

Romanian Holocaust survivors received wheelchairs from the Knights at this nursing home in Nesher, Israel

Meir Grosmarn of Jerusalem has a custom seat that fits into his wheelchair

Girias Hadas, 5, at the Princess Basma Center in Jerusalem

Hadas Kagan received her wheelchair at the Chabad Center in Jerusalem

Former police officer Dror Shemeshe, 65, with Rabbis Menachem and Yossi cried tears of joy because he can finally be independent again

Tennessee PSD Bill Wicke is thanked by former policeman, Roni Gozlan, who lost his legs in a suicide bombing

Fr. Francis Maria and the Franciscan Sisters of the Cana Wedding Church participate in home deliveries of wheelchairs in Nazareth with Tennessee PSD, Bill Wicke

9

www.amwheelchair.org

Lives Changed in Vietnam one distribution in the South took us to within 6 miles of the Cambodian border.

Knights of Columbus have sponsored the delivery of thousands of wheelchairs to people throughout Vietnam.

On our most recent visit, 600 wheelchairs were sponsored

by Knights in Texas, California and Missouri. Through Caritas Vietnam, people in need of mobility in all 26 Catholic dioceses of the country have been helped.

During this latest visit, three returning veterans joined our wheelchair distribution team.

Troy Chesnut of Odessa, TX first deployed to Vietnam in 1965, Paul Fehmel of Dallas, and Bob Read of Ocala, FL arrived in 1968. None had been back to Vietnam until our most recent trip to deliver wheelchairs.

The first distributions were in and around the Catholic churches in Hanoi for two days, then to Hai Phong for two days, Danang for two days and then to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Southern Vietnam for the remaining three days. The road trips between the Caritas offices and the Catholic Churches were sometimes 4-5 hours, and

10 American Wheelchair Mission

The stories of lives changed for entire families ranges from the children who can now go to school in their new wheelchairs, to the teens and adults who can go to work because of their newfound mobility, and the elderly who can get out of a bed or a hammock for the first time in years to attend church, socialize with neighbors, or just go outside by themselves to tend their garden. The simple gift of mobility changes lives of entire families, and answers their prayers.

The experience of returning to Vietnam was eye opening for the three veterans. They were surprised by the warm welcome into every home we visited, and the thankful embraces from every family member.

A 23-year-old young man named Do Cong Trong had to be carried by his father everywhere he went, since being injured in a motorcycle accident. But the moment he received his new wheelchair, he was able to move himself back to the family’s rice cake factory behind their home, and immediately contribute to the well being of his family. This was a joyful moment for him, his family, and especially his father, who can now rest from carrying his adult son everywhere he goes.

After many miles of travel and many lives changed, the distribution team met with Fr. Vincent Vu Ngoc Dong, Director of Caritas Vietnam at their offices in Saigon, and had lunch with the staff. At lunch, a gentleman who works for Caritas asked Troy and Paul if they had been to Vietnam before. They said they had, during the war. He then told them that during the war he was Viet Cong. And Paul promptly exclaimed, “So you’re Charlie!”

Feelings from the past were put aside for good, and the healing embrace of new friends working together to do God’s work on earth, made everyone smile and vow to return for more.

Nguyen Xuan Han, 78, of Hanoi has spent the past 4 years in his bed

Do Cong Trong, 23, was immediately able to go to work in his family’s back-room rice cake factory in Haiphong, Vietnam with Father Kien looking on

Nguyen Thi Hong, 86, of Hanoi was so excited to try out her brand new wheelchair

Nguyen Van Son, 64, and his family pray for a blessing in Hanoi

This little lady thanks Troy for the blessing of her new wheelchair

Dallas Knight, Paul Fehmel, carries Le Dai Phuong, 65, to his wheelchair in Ba Ria, Vietnam

Nguyen Van Ly, 62, of Hanoi can go to work now for the first time is 6 years

11

www.amwheelchair.org

A Dire Need for Mobility in Kenya

There is lots of conflicting information when researching the number of wheelchairs needed in the world. Some estimates say 25 million people and some say 250 million people. Our estimate is more than 100 million people worldwide need a wheelchair, cannot afford one, and no other mobility device will provide the same type of assistance.

In African countries, Angola leads the pack with some 20% of the population of 12 million people physically disabled by decades of civil war, unexploded ordnance and lack of health care. Sierra Leone is close behind, and then come many other countries at around 10% of the population being physically disabled. Kenya’s population of 45 million translates into approximately 4.5 million people in need of a wheelchair.

The California and Texas Knights of Columbus answered the call for wheelchairs to the Diocese of Eldoret, Kenya.

Bishop Cornelius Korir acted as consignee for the container of 280 wheelchairs sent by the American Wheelchair Mission.

12 American Wheelchair Mission

The first wheelchair distribution was held at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Eldoret. Fr. James, who traveled from North America to be at the ceremony, was instrumental in getting the wheelchairs sent.

He had spent years in Eldoret and knew the people and the needs of the poor very well.

It is a life changing experience the first time a person sees a grown man or woman crawling on the ground to get where they have to go. It is humiliating for the people, and very dangerous. The number one cause of death for a physically disabled person on the continent of Africa is snakebites. They cannot avoid the snakes, and must take their chances when crawling through grass or brush. A wheelchair changes that completely and delivers many gifts, including dignity, independence and protection from snakes.

Several orphanages received wheelchairs for the children who were not mobile, and the gift of mobility gave them even brighter hopes and dreams for the future. These are children who have suffered from polio, diabetes and leprosy among other ailments.

Administered by Catholic nuns, an orphanage 45 minutes north of Nairobi is the home for children who are HIV Positive.

They were very well cared for, and the nuns had created a loving, nurturing environment

for children with this terrible disease. The sisters ask us to all pray for the health of the children, and for them to have the strength to always be there for them.

Africa is a very far away place, but with the dedicated efforts of the Knights of Columbus, some 10,000,000 Kenyan Catholics can count on us to keep them in our prayers, and do our very best to send more wheelchairs as soon as possible.

People struggle to move themselves until they receive a wheelchair

This young man prayed for the gift of a wheelchair

A young orphan in Eldoret was very happy to receive his brand new wheelchair

Many people without mobility must crawl or be carried

Some wheelchair recipients were carried for several miles

These orphan boys in Eldoret, Kenya are well cared for by the sisters of the diocese

Bishop Cornelius Korir of the Diocese of Eldoret blesses the wheelchairs

One wheelchair can change the lives of an entire family

13

www.amwheelchair.org

Knights of Columbus and Wheelchairs Since 2003, Knights of Columbus have sponsored the delivery of tens of thousands of wheelchairs around the world, and right here at home to veterans and their families in need of mobility.

Since

2007,

Knights

across the U.S. have been having “Wheelchair Sunday” parish drives to raise funds for the delivery

of

wheel-

Assumption Blessed Church

of

the

Virgin in

California,

Mary

Pasadena, where

Fr.

Gerard O’Brien coined the phrase “Wheelchair Sunday,” this program has spread across the country and sponsored thousands

of

wheel-

chairs.

The first 5 parish drives in Southern California raised enough money to sponsor the delivery of 1,000 brand new wheelchairs and added more than 150 new Knights to the local membership.

Please visit the Knights of Columbus page of our website to learn how you can host a “Wheelchair Sunday.”

Sister Jenny helps a family bring their loved one into the Metropolitan Cathedral of Naga City, Philippines to get his new wheelchair

Please visit our website to watch videos of Knights delivering wheelchairs around the world, read articles or donate.

For more information, please contact: Dan Moberg Director of Public Education 2600 E. Seltice Way, Suite A-172 Post Falls, Idaho 83854 USA dmoberg@amwheelchair.org (208) 457-0745

Chris Lewis President 2505 Anthem Village Dr., Suite E-602 Henderson, Nevada 89052-5505 USA clewis@amwheelchair.org (702) 580-0705

© Copyright 2014 American Wheelchair Mission | Photos by: Randy Hale, Chris Lewis & Contributing Photographers

chairs. Beginning with