Ever Thought About Joining an All Volunteer Wheelchair Distribution Team?

There are probably several dozen organizations in the U.S.A. that refurbish and deliver wheelchairs to developing countries around the world. If you’ve ever thought about joining one of these volunteer teams here’s one person’s firsthand perspective (from a March 2002 trip) on what to expect.

This kind of experience is not for looky-loos or those expecting to indulge in poolside service. This is for the self-sufficient experienced back packers, rough campers and people able to deal with delays, sudden plan changes and occasional frustrations. Leave your stopwatch and day planner at home, there is little room to be picky in this environment. You might find yourself without the right tools or parts to do your best, yet still you have to complete your task. Obstacles, and there can be many, must be handled as challenges and not the end of the road.

On this particular trip (to Tlaxcala, Mexico) the task was to dispense 150 wheelchairs in three locations over a five day schedule. The actual trip was nine days from start to finish.

Living accommodations and out of pocket expenses vary from trip to trip (lasting anywhere from three to twelve days). Listening to some of David Richard’s favorite stories one finds that accommodations can run from sublime to post-disaster minimalist. In Vietnam for example, home base is a four star hotel. On this trip we were guests of the Rosete and Perez families at their rural family farm in a small town several hours southeast of Mexico City. Elevation in this region of Tlaxcala is seven thousand feet with an arid desert atmosphere. Pigs and sheep were penned behind the house, while turkeys, chickens and dogs ran freely. Most of the food was gathered from the property. There are no paved roads, sidewalks or streetlights. This was total emersion cultural living, resort pampering was a world away.

Special diets could prove to be a problem under these conditions Being dependent on your host’s limited resources makes it difficult for special accommodations. In this case we ate and lived as the family does in their everyday lifestyle. Food included daily handmade corn tortillas and cactus salad with almost every meal. On the night of our arrival the women of the family were busily making dozens of tamales for our first meal and the coming holiday.

David Richard’s organization, Wheels for Humanity, carries neither a political nor a religious agenda. There are little monetary gains to be had in this kind of profession. David truly does this work from the core of his heart. I found him to easily communicate his goals to everyone he meets. A comic with a constant smile, David is both sincere and fun spirited. He is a marvel of logistics and diplomacy. Everywhere we went people recalled his previous visits and the joy he has brought to their lives.

The container of 150 wheelchairs (from every manufacturer imaginable) had already arrived several weeks earlier. Volunteers working at the warehouse in North Hollywood, CA spent many hours making repairs and detailing the hodgepodge of seating and mobility aids.  Maria, David Rosete’s wife, had also arrived in Tlaxcala several weeks earlier. As the lead person her job was to retrieve the container of wheelchairs from Mexicana Airlines in Mexico City then transport and store them at the family farm. She also helped gather data on the recipients and later worked with David Richard and the various town representatives to detail the logistics for the three delivery sites.

The actual work of profiling the recipients and dispensing the wheelchairs is a nonstop orchestration that goes quite fast.  The families begin arriving ahead of schedule and wait patiently while the logistical elements of handling as many as 200 people are worked out.  These families know this is a rare opportunity so they eagerly travel from the surrounding towns by any means possible.  Several have made the trek sitting on the back of a hand pulled cart.  Some of the frail adults arrive by ambulance and the younger for the most part (regardless of their age) are hand carried over long distances. Ages ranged from 3 to 80 years. 

Nothing can really start until the official ceremonies, speeches and photo taking are complete. Once done however, it’s nonstop mixing and matching of wheelchairs and seating systems. The therapist measures and make a quick assessment of need. The seating specialist and helpers detail and adjust the most practical wheelchair combination. Later the parents are instructed on the use and care of the components. Adult recipients are shown how to transfer and self propel. Throughout all this activity parish volunteers provide food, music and accommodations via the local church. The recipients and family members leave with a mobility aid, a full stomach and a smile for the long journey back home. For them the experience is meant to be positive in every possible respect.

But first, there are the tearful goodbyes. Some recipients offer words of thanks at the microphone, others simply offer quite tears of gratitude. Mothers and fathers speak on behalf of their children, the adults speak of a better life for themselves and their families. Their tears of joy and opportunity spillover to the audience and volunteers…this is the payoff! This is why I went and why I’m certain to join Wheels for Humanity again and again.

Bougainvilleas on the wall.  Sightseeing on day four includes a visit to several historical ruins.

Team Members

The volunteer team typically consists of the following personnel: David Richard, plus a local contact, a therapist, a seating specialist, a wheelchair tech and a translator.

On this trip Marcela Ramos took the roll of translator and therapist. I took the roll of seating specialist and tech. David Rosete was principle host, driver and tech. Marie Perez was host, coordinator and diplomat. David Richard was David Richard from start to finish. Ever resourceful, ever positive, ever humble and all humanitarian.

The most difficult part about joining a team is synchronizing vacation time with scheduled departure dates.

All teams depart and return from Los Angeles International (LAX) airport.

Break time after touring the pyramid excavations in Tepetipac.

Some of the young volunteers trading stories and enjoying the Friday evening bash.

A local vendor brings his portable taco stand into the front courtyard for the evening.  It's an exclusive engagement for about 50 attendees.

Special thanks to the Rosete and Perez families:

Their hospitality, generosity and companionship were major components to making our trip such a wonderful experience for the entire team. 

Wheels For Humanity
818-766-8000
North Hollywood, Ca

www.wheelsforhumanity.org