WHEELCHAIR MINISTRY IN REVIEW

Our Wheelchair Ministry in Texas is entering its tenth fraternal year. What the Knights of Columbus have achieved in our great State is most impressive. During the past nine fraternal years $1,440,059 has been raised. This amount has purchased 9,600 wheelchairs. This can be better understood by stating that 9,600 IMMOBILE people have become MOBILE! These people are scattered over many locations on our earth to include numerous places in Mexico. They have been distributed in Chile, Vietnam, Philippines, Israel and Palestine as well as to several places in the Texas including VA Hospitals, Clergy Retirement Centers, Children’s hospitals and many individuals who could not otherwise obtain them.

We made two distributions to the needy in Selma, Alabama. When the Worthy State Deputy in Alabama asked why Knights from Texas were doing this, the answer was simple. “We found a critical need that was not being served”.

All of our Worthy State Deputies have asked each Council to donate $150 to purchase one wheelchair each. Only about 15% meet or exceed this goal annually. Our best results were achieved during the 2014/15 fraternal year when $293,000 was raised. Now, during our 10^th anniversary year, let’s set a goal of $300,000! This challenge is not a difficult one. It is only $7,000 more than was raised during our best year. This amount will purchase 2,000 wheelchairs!!

Support from all of the leadership of our Knights in Texas will achieve this goal. This means that Diocesan Deputies and Grand Knights must pay particular attention and just remember what a wheelchair means to an IMMOBILE person.