American Wheelchair Mission

The American Wheelchair Mission (AWM) is one of the official charities of the Knights of Columbus.

Since 2003, Knights of Columbus and Catholic parishioners across the country have sponsored the delivery of more than 100,000 new wheelchairs into the lives of people needing mobility.

In developing countries, a wheelchair means children can go to school, adults can work to care for their families, and the elderly can get out of a bed they may have been confined to for years.

But a wheelchair doesn’t just change the recipient's life; it changes the lives of entire families. Very often, people tell us we have just answered their prayers.

In Texas, Knights are delivering wheelchairs through local churches, to veterans, retired priests and nuns, children’s hospitals, Catholic Charities, and the Honor Flight program that takes our nation’s heroes to visit their monuments in Washington, DC.

The high-quality wheelchairs delivered by AWM could sell for up to $500 in a medical supply store. But because they are delivered by ocean freight containers of 280 wheelchairs each from the factory to the destination, each wheelchair can be delivered with a donation of $150.

Texas Knights are leading the nation with over 4,900 wheelchairs sponsored this past Columbian year.

First Lady Beth Fruge has chosen the American Wheelchair Mission as her Ladies’ project for the next two years and encourages all Knights’ wives to become involved in this very worthwhile mission.

Texas State Wheelchair Chairman Bill Weber (yankeesweb@tx.rr.com, 214-405-8023) can help you arrange a Wheelchair Sunday in your local parish. Lives are changed with the gift of mobility, and councils add new members wanting to be involved in our humanitarian mission. It is easy to do and very successful.

Chris Lewis

President

American Wheelchair Mission