Wheelchair Mission Report

The Knights of Columbus work in partnership with the American Wheelchair Mission to provide wheelchairs to an estimated 100 million people worldwide that need a wheelchair, but cannot afford one.

Some highlights of the Wheelchair Program:

• Wheelchairs allow children to go to school for the first time, adults to go to work, and the elderly to get out of bed.
• It is a life changing gift of mobility that answers prayers and delivers hope, dignity, freedom and independence.
• It is estimated that each wheelchair delivered changes and improves an average of 10 lives.
• Retailing at $500, each wheelchair is delivered at an average cost of $150.
• With a $150 donation you can request a personalized Certificate of Thanks which includes a picture of a wheelchair recipient.
• With a $500 donation you can request a framed 34” x 23” Our Lady of Guadalupe lithograph, blessed at her Basilica in Mexico City.
• A Council donation of $1,500 for 10 wheelchairs counts 2 points towards earning the Columbian Award.
• 100% of a donation goes towards the purchase and delivery of a wheelchair, as the Knights of Columbus cover overhead costs.
• Wheelchair Sundays are an effective way to raise funds for this program and are also a good way to recruit new members.
• Helping at a Wheelchair Sunday counts as an event towards earning your Pro Life ACE Wings.

Thank you and God bless you to the 175 Councils, 3 Assemblies, 1 Squire and 1 Chapter that donated to the American Wheelchair Mission in fraternal year 2020-2021. Your donations of $441,130 for 2,941 wheelchairs exceeded the $413,394 for 2,756 wheelchairs raised in 2019-2020, and far exceeded the $120,611 for 804 wheelchairs raised by California, our closest competition.

Again the State goal for this fraternal year is for every Council to participate in this program by donating at least $150 for one wheelchair, which no Diocese in Texas has ever done. Please contact Texas Wheelchair Chairman Bill Weber at yankeesweb@tx.rr.com or 214-405-8023 if you have any questions about the Wheelchair Program, need any help conducting a Wheelchair Sunday or need any wheelchairs. Bill will be glad to talk to your Pastor or Council about the program and address any questions or concerns they might have.