Wheelchairs Rolling in Haiti

We all know the ancient Chinese proverb, that “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” When overwhelmed with a seemingly dauntless task ahead, this calming bit of wisdom reminds us to set our course, lean into the wind, and step out in faith.

This week, first photos from the field arrived, encouragement from friends of Free Wheelchair Mission, images of wheelchairs on the move, bringing some small relief to those who have suffered so much.

To date, approximately 100 wheelchairs have already been distributed. Another 200 wheelchairs are en route, via Direct Relief International, slated to arrive in country soon. Two full containers will soon leave Shanghai for the Dominican Republic, where they will be unloaded and trucked over the border and into Haiti. And, three of our current distribution partners are arranging logistics for more containers to be delivered to this hurting island nation.

It is not enough. But it is a start.

The first step is always the hardest. And so, we do today what ancient wisdom would prescribe. Set a course. Lean into the wind. Step out in faith.

Pray for Haiti.

One container arrived in Vietnam

During this past week a container of 550 wheelchairs was delivered in Viet Nam. To date 51,150 wheelchairs have been distributed by our partners in this friendly country.

From Viet Nam

Haiti Assistance Income Tax Incentive Act

Thanks to you, over $89,000 has been raised to date for emergency wheelchair relief to Haiti! And, thanks to the folks on Capitol Hill, a piece of tax deduction legislation has been passed by both houses of Congress to allow Americans to deduct their charitable donations to Haiti relief from their 2009 tax returns.* Now, every donation to Haiti through 2/28/10 can be claimed for 2009, giving Americans even more encouragement to give generously in the face of this humanitarian crisis.

*To learn more about the Haiti Assistance Income Tax Incentive Act, go to http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-01-21/early-tax-deduction-for-haiti-relief-passes-congress-update3-.html.

Relief is continuing to flood into Haiti

Much has happened at FWM in the last two weeks. In addition to the dollars pouring in for the people of Haiti, earlier this week, volunteers and staff prepped and palletized 200 wheelchairs to be delivered from our southern California warehouse to our partner, Direct Relief International, for an upcoming air shipment into Port-au-Prince. Many thanks to transport companies CMI and MOL for providing free trucking to DRI’s headquarters in Santa Barbara. In addition, our manufacturing partner in China has donated an entire container of wheelchairs for Haiti relief. We thank them for their generosity!

Although much has been done to help the people of Haiti, far more remains to be accomplished. Sadly, with the numerous crush injuries and amputations evident as a result of this earthquake, the on-going need for a significant number of wheelchairs can not be emphasized strongly enough. FWM is committed to increasing the scheduled import of containers into Port-au-Prince. In addition to DRI, we are working to collaborate further with international partners Operation Blessing International and Samaritan’s Purse. We continue to support Fundación Universitaria Romanense, our partner in the Dominican Republic, as well as our friends at Global Missions, FWM's distribution partner in Port-au-Prince.

This process of wheelchair relief will be on-going and dynamic as we adjust to an ever-changing environment and accommodate the challenges surely waiting beyond the horizon; as a supporter of FWM, you should know that our organization is committed to long-term aid as we join the worldwide philanthropic community rallying around the people of Haiti.

Friday Wheelchair Story: Heartbreak in Haiti

Dear Friends,

Usually I try to save the Friday Story for some good news, and to share with you stories of love and connection from the field. Today, all I can think about is our heartbreak over Haiti. Like you, we are all so concerned about the devastation Tuesday’s earthquake has wrought upon our brothers and sisters there, it is hard to know what to say. Or where to begin. Let me just share with you an email our office received last night from our distribution partner in Haiti’s island neighbor, the Dominican Republic:

Dear Don,

Please be advised that since we learned about the earthquake in Haiti we have mobilized our wheelchair distribution partners throughout the DR, and as a result of their kindness and disposition we have been able to identify one hundred wheelchairs that we can borrow from several institutions, and route them to Haiti. Hopefully we will be able to replace the borrowed chairs when our next container arrives into the DR.

We will be driving down to Haiti sometime next week. Please provide contact information of FWM partner in Haiti. We will make every conceivable effort to reach them before our arrival into Haiti.

God Blesses you every second!
Heriberto "Eddie" Marte
Fundación Universitaria Romanense

Friends, how incredibly blessed we are to live in a world that loves and cares so deeply for one another. When one of us hurts, let us all have the honor of feeling that pain just as deeply, knowing that God hears every prayer and sees every sacrifice. We are so grateful to Eddie and the people of the DR for their sacrifice – for a country suffering with chronic poverty to offer up 100 wheelchairs is a profound act of compassion, and we are grateful.

When combined with the 400 wheelchairs we believe we have currently on the ground in Haiti, the gifts from the DR will help our contacts in the region to make a significant immediate impact. Know too that we are supplying our international partners with additional wheelchairs, and will continue working to get another container into the area to aid in ongoing medical relief.

Please pray for the people of Haiti, and for those 100 disabled people in the DR who will now continue to wait as their wheelchairs travel to Port-au-Prince to bring relief to those afflicted in this crisis.

God Bless,
Don Schoendorfer
Founder and President, FWM