Wheelchair Mission Update

Below are Wheelchair Mission activities, which I am aware of, since the last article in November.Please let me know what your Councils and Dioceses are doing to support the American Wheelchair Mission so I can include your stories in my future updates.

In November, Our Lady of Angels Council 13044 in Allen held a Wheelchair Sunday and raised $25,148 for 168 wheelchairs.Their funds will go towards providing wheelchairs for the CRIT Center in Guanajuato, Mexico. Thanks to Brother Brad Meyer for again leading this effort.

Council 799 at St. Patrick in Dallas held a Wheelchair Sunday and raised $21,417 for 143 wheelchairs.Their funds will also go towards providing wheelchairs for the CRIT Center in Guanajuato, Mexico. Thank you to Field Agent K. C. Kenney for coordinating the event.

St. Edward Council 14512 in Spring held their Annual Chili Cook Off and raised an amazing $34,184 for 228 wheelchairs. Their funds will go towards providing wheelchairs for Vietnam and the Philippines. Thanks to all the Council 14512 Brother Knights that helped make this happen.

St. Joseph Council 8417 in Waxahachie held a Wheelchair Sunday and raised $6,762 for 45 wheelchairs.Their funds will provide wheelchairs for the CRIT Center in Chiapas, Mexico. Thanks to Field Agent James Speelman for again coordinating the event.

Fr. Emil Platte Council 5052 at Mary Immaculate in Farmers Branch held a Wheelchair Sunday and raised an incredible $42,796 for 285 wheelchairs. Their Council alone provided enough funds for a large container of 280 wheelchairs for the CRIT Center in Guanajuato, Mexico. Thanks to Past Dallas Diocesan Deputy Roy Rabenaldt for again coordinating their Wheelchair Sunday.

In January, St. Mary Queen of Peace Council 3867 in Brownwood held their first ever Wheelchair Sunday and raised $3,717 for 25 wheelchairs. Their funds will be used to provide wheelchairs in the San Angelo Diocese. Thanks to District Deputy Mike Murray for coordinating their Wheelchair Sunday.

As of January 31st, Texas has raised $320,507 for 2,137 wheelchairs. Thank you so much for helping to raisie these funds. Shown below are the Totals by Diocese and the Top 5 Texas Councils. Texas Knights have a great opportunity to accomplish something special this fraternal year. The most Wheelchair Mission funds raised by a jurisdiction are $476K by California in 2015-2016. Texas could exceed that amount this fraternal year and raise half a million dollars to provide 3,333 wheelchairs. In order to help make this happen, we need more Councils to hold Wheelchair Sundays.At the minimum, we ask each Council to please donate at least $150 for one wheelchair.

Please mail checks and donation forms to Dan Moberg, American Wheelchair Mission, 560 W. Main St. #C804, Alhambra, CA, 91801-3376.Also, please be sure your Council Number and Diocese are on your checks so that your donation will be properly credited.Please go to www.amwheelchair.org/donate for online donations and enter your Council Number in the Organization field.

Please contact me 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.I will be glad to talk to your Pastor or Council about the program and address any questions or concerns they might have.

Pictured: Tim has a permanent spinal due to a car accident. They had little to no money. The Knights of Columbus were glad to provide him with a free wheelchair.