This past week, Free Wheelchair Mission gave away our one-millionth wheelchair. I am awed and humbled to bear witness to this momentous occasion, made possible by God’s grace and your partnership with us.
It seems like only yesterday that I was on a mission trip to India, bringing four wheelchairs that I constructed in my garage, hoping to find people who might benefit from having one.
We were led to the slums of Chennai, where we encountered four individuals– Immanuel, Kumudavalli AKA Lotus Blossom, Eswari, and Indra– whose names and faces are forever etched in my memory.
When we first lifted them off the ground and into wheelchairs, I knew this was what I was being called to do, although I had very little understanding of where this would all go after returning from that trip in 2001.
Then God came in and cleared a path for us to move forward. People came alongside us–everyone wanted to help–and we realized that together, we could do more than we ever imagined.
Together, we shipped our first container of wheelchairs to Angola in 2002.
Together, we distributed our 500,000th wheelchair in India in 2011.
Together, we have given away over one million wheelchairs in 93 countries.
Words alone cannot express my gratitude to you as you prayed, gave, and supported this mission in so many creative and inspiring ways. Thank you for your heart for people living with disabilities in developing nations.
Thank you for your trust and partnership with Free Wheelchair Mission.
Blessings,
Don Schoendorfer
PS: Come celebrate the distribution of our one-millionth wheelchair at the Miracle of Mobility on July 13th, which promises to be an unforgettable evening. If you can’t join us in person, you can watch the program on Facebook Live, starting at 7:00pm PST.
