Donate Wheelchairs, Walkers, Crutches Today for Needy

In developing nations like Ghana or Honduras, the cost of a wheelchair is equal to a year's salary. Since 2002, WIHS-FM in Middletown has been hosting an annual Wheels for the World wheelchair drive to match the disabled overseas with unused walkers, canes and crutches.

The donation center opened on July 9 and already 45 wheelchairs, 172 walkers, 47 canes and 128½ crutches have been collected.

Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is the only weekend pickup day this month. Regular hours are weekdays through July 20 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Metal collapsible wheelchairs, walkers, canes and crutches will be taken at the WIHS Studios in Middletown (no wooden equipment will be received).

For over 20 years, Wheels for the World has supplied more than 20,000 wheelchairs to the disabled in 23 countries. Wheels for the World is a part of the disability outreach of Joni & Friends Ministries, one of the world's largest organizations dedicated to reaching people affected by disability worldwide.

The wheelchairs collected in Middletown will be refurbished and then shipped overseas, where they will be distributed by the Joni & Friends Wheels for the World teams to children and adults with disabilities.

For a peek at what sort of excitement you can expect from the Wheels for the World outreach, take a look at the 2009 Wheels for the World Image Gallery.

Wheels for the World Collection Totals at WIHS as of July 13, 5 p.m.