A Report from Haiti

When a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Haiti last August, Free Wheelchair Mission set out to send 2,500 wheelchairs to Haiti, and you responded.

Thanks to the generosity of friends like you, we have since shipped seven containers of wheelchairs to our primary distribution partners in Haiti, Food For the Poor and The Walkabout Foundation.

You are helping to make an impact on the lives of individuals like Mordensky, a 13-year-old who received a new GEN_3 wheelchair through The Walkabout Foundation and its sub-distribution partner, Hope Health Action. “Having a new wheelchair brings his happiness back,” said someone who was present at Mordensky’s wheelchair fitting.

“These wheelchairs have had a huge positive impact on our organization and the communities we work in, as wheelchair provision in Haiti is very limited, and therefore, the need for wheelchairs is huge,” said Ellen Gamble of The Walkabout Foundation. “Through [our sub-distribution] partners, we have been able to reach all parts of Haiti, enabling us to access some of the most hard-to-reach people.”

Wheelchairs provide more than just mobility in the aftermath of disaster.

“A wheelchair is the starting point for people with mobility disabilities to be included in the community through employment, school, church, and becoming more independent and getting around on their own,” continued Ellen. “However, we still know there is a lot more work to do with disability inclusion and ending community stigma against people with mobility disabilities.”

Yes, there is a lot more to do, and together, we will continue doing this work.

Thank you for partnering with Free Wheelchair Mission.