Students gather wheelchairs and more, will donate to Third World countries
Students are putting their passion into action as they collect assistive devices to help improve accessibility and mobility for the needy around the world. The Physical Therapist Assistant Club at Kirkwood Community College is collecting donated wheelchairs, aluminum crutches, canes and foldable walkers to send to Third World countries, on Friday, April 29.
The donated items go to the organization Wheels for the World, which fixes the items and distributes them globally. This is the second time Kirkwood students have set up a collection site for this organization, and hope to make it an annual collection drive. Their work is part of a statewide drive by the Iowa Physical Therapy Association. Last year 336 wheelchairs and 400 walkers were collected at various locations across Iowa. Kirkwood collected about 30 wheelchairs and 70 walkers.
“When we think about helping the needy in developing countries, we often think of donating things like food, water and clothing,” said Physical Therapist Assistant Program Director Maggie Thomas. “We’re finding that there are a lot of people whose mobility needs aren’t being met, and we wanted to make sure they get the right help.”
Donated items can be dropped off in room 133 Linn Hall, where they will be labeled and prepared for shipment. The students will be contacting local hospitals, nursing homes and physical therapy clinics to get donations.
Kirkwood Freshman Landon Conner, Solon, said helpful items might be just sitting unused. “We know lots of people that may have a cane or walker from a surgery or rehab a while ago. Here is the chance to put them to use again for people who really need them,” he said.
If you have a wheelchair or other assistive device that you want to donate, bring it to 133 Linn Hall on April 29 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. If you have questions about this project, please call 319-398-5566 or email [email protected].