Knights of Columbus Newsletter 2014

Answering Prayerswith the Gift of Mobility

this issue• Veterans / USA• Phil ippines• Mexico• Holy Land• Vietnam• Kenya

Florida PSD Bob Read greets Nguyen Thi Tinh in Ba Ria, Vietnam

American Wheelchair Mission

Our Mission

The American Wheelchair

Mission is a non-profit

organization with a goal

to deliver brand new, free

wheelchairs and mobil-

ity aids to physically dis-

abled children, teens and

adults throughout the

world who are without

mobility or the means to

acquire a wheelchair. The

American Wheelchair

Mission will continue to

change the lives of entire

families with the gifts of

hope, dignity, freedom

and independence.

The NeedWe estimate more than

100 million people world-

wide are in need of a

wheelchair but cannot

afford one. Our gift

immediately changes the

lives of entire families by

answering prayers and

making dreams come

true.

membership tool you will ever experience. After seeing our video during Mass and hearing our presentation, parishioners will have a new understanding of the charitable work being done around the world by the Knights of Columbus. We then invite the gentlemen to join us, and the rest is done by personal con-tact outside at the information tables.

You will change lives with the delivery of wheelchairs, and you will increase membership in your council.

It is easier than a pancake breakfast!

Since 2007, Knights across the U.S. have been having “Wheelchair Sunday” parish drives to raise funds for the delivery of wheelchairs. These drives have sponsored tens of thousands of wheelchairs to the Bahamas, Chile, Domini-can Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, the Holy Land, Honduras, Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, Vietnam, and to Veterans across the United States, while adding hundreds of new Knights to the councils involved.

Please visit our website to watch videos of Knights delivering wheelchairs around the world, read articles or donate.

For more information or to mail donations:

Dan MobergDirector of Public Education 2600 E. Seltice Way, Suite A-172Post Falls, Idaho 83854 [email protected](208) 457-0745

Wheelchair SundayThe most successful fund raising event for the deliv-ery of wheelchairs is a “Wheelchair Sunday” parish drive. Please visit the Knights of Columbus page of our website at www.amwheelchair.org to download the “Wheelchair Sunday” booklet for the complete instructions on how to conduct a “Wheelchair Sun-day” parish drive.

These parish drives are also the most successful

Left: Form 100 filled out during a Wheelchair Sunday at St. Joseph, Nipomo, CA

Right: SK Jarred Barrios fills out information cards at a Wheelchair Sunday drive in Fairfield, CA

$150 Sponsors the delivery of a brand new wheelchairThe wheelchair deliv-

ered by the American

Wheelchair Mission

would sell for more than

$500 in a medical sup-

ply store. Yet because

we purchase wheelchairs

directly from the manu-

facturer, and ship them

100 to 280 wheelchairs

at a time by ocean freight

containers directly to

the country of destina-

tion, we can deliver this

$500 wheelchair with

each $150 donation we

receive.

VISIT OUR SITEAmwheelchair.orgOn our website you will

see videos of wheelchair

distributions around the

world, photos of people

and their families who

had their lives changed

by the gift of a wheel-

chair, and stories of our

mission that touches

lives in a very tangible

and immediate way.

Join Us!Join us on a wheelchair

distribution trip – Please

email Dan Moberg at:

d m o b e r g @ a m w h e e l -

chair.org for details.1

Our ProgramThe American Wheelchair Mission is a non-profit organization that deliv-ers free wheelchairs to children, teens and adults without mobility or the means to acquire a wheelchair.

Since 2003, Knights of Columbus have sponsored the delivery of more than 45,000 wheelchairs around the world to people in dire need of mobility.

We deliver brand new, high quality wheelchairs by entire sea containers.

The wheelchairs we deliver in 5 sizes (12, 14, 16, 18 & 20 inch seat widths) would sell for over $500 in a medical supply store, but because we purchase them in bulk and ship them by 100 to 280 wheelchair containers from the fac-tories, directly to the country of destination, we can do this at an average price of $150 each.

For entities interested in delivering an entire container of wheelchairs to a spe-cific country or local destination, a gift of $16,500 will deliver a shipping con-tainer of 100 pneumatic, mountain bike or 110 solid tire wheelchairs to a country specified by the donor, from our list of approved destination countries. A gift of $42,000 will deliver a container of 260 pneumatic, mountain bike tire or 280 solid tire wheelchairs. A logo or short text of the donor’s choice will be stitched onto the back of each wheelchair when sponsored by container. At retail, these containers of wheelchairs are valued at $55,000 and $140,000. (For special sizes or delivery locations, costs may vary)

The Wheelchairs we deliver allow children to go to school for the first time, adults to go to work to provide for their families and the elderly to get out of a bed they may have been confined to for years at a time. We are answering the prayers of entire families.

Over 100 million people worldwide need a wheelchair but cannot afford one!

Our gift delivers Hope, Dignity, Freedom and Independence.

We estimate that each wheelchair delivered changes and improves an average of 10 lives!

Since 2007, Knights across the U.S. have been having “Wheelchair Sunday” parish drives to raise funds for the delivery of wheelchairs. These drives have sponsored tens of thousands of wheelchairs around the world, while adding hundreds of new Knights to the councils involved.

For more information, to watch videos and download the “Wheelchair Sunday” handbook, please visit the Knights of Columbus page of our website at: www.amwheelchair.org.

www.amwheelchair.org

Knights of Columbus support our nation’s veterans every day of the year. Local councils help families in need in their own communities, and sometimes in different cities and states.

The simple gift of mobility helps veterans get around their homes, and it helps every mem-ber of their family. Often, a vet-eran will have a heavy electric wheelchair, but needs a basic mobility wheelchair for moving in their home, or just to and from their car. Sometimes a spouse or other family member needs a wheelchair, and we are happy to be there to help.

Yes, our department of Veterans Affairs does a great job taking care of those who served, but with budgets tight, the Knights and the American Wheelchair Mission can be the answer to many immediate needs.

Knights are also helping other people with mobility challenges. Retired priests and nuns are getting new wheelchairs, low-income families in local parishes are getting help, and the families of children with medical needs don’t have to worry about buying an expensive wheelchair.

In the fraternal year 2013-14 Knights in the following states have either received or spon-sored the delivery of ocean freight containers of wheelchairs into their local communities to help fill the immediate needs.

Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, Texas (San Antonio, TX Knights spon-sored a container of 110 wheel-chairs and 100 canes to the Edmundite Missions in Selma, AL and 280 wheelchairs to the new CRIT USA center in San Antonio), Virginia and Washing-ton.

The Florida Knights have giv-en wheelchairs to WWII vets taking the “Honor Flight” from Lakeland, FL to visit the WWII memorial in Washington, DC. Many vets require wheelchairs, and the Knights are proud to pro-vide them.

A young man named Joshua Ed-monson received a wheelchair from the Amarillo, TX Knights and Columbiettes, who made his life easier while he bravely battles serious health issues.

There is a story attached to the delivery of each wheelchair, and the lives changed multiply by the number of family and friends. We are able to deliver hope, dignity and independence into the lives of our brothers and sisters. We can answer the prayers of people who have

lost their mobility, and give a gift to every member of their family.

Knights and their Catholic com-munities across the USA are changing lives around the world, and more right here at home than any other destination. Thank you!

Helping Veterans and Neighbors Across the USA

Returning “Honor Flight” vets were the celebrities in Lakeland, FL

San Antonio Knights delivered 100 wheelchairs to residents of Selma, AL

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Many of the vets needed a wheelchair to visit the WWII memorial on their “Honor Flight”

Florida Knights provided wheelchairs for the WWII Vets’ “Honor Flight” to the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC

Residents of Selma, AL shared stories of their lives with visitng Knights and their families

Vets like to show the Knights how agile they are in their new wheelchairs

Vets returning to Lakeland, FL from the trip to Washington, DC received a warm welcome

Karen is a Navy veteran who uses a wheelchair every dayJoshua Edmonson received a wheelchair from the Knights of Amarillo, TX


There are many extremes in the Philippines. The extreme poverty that grips millions of people around the urban centers of the country, the ex-treme storms and typhoons that wash away lives, homes and livelihoods, and the ex-treme faith held closely in the hearts of the people, that their prayers will be answered for a better life.

These are the realities that relief organizations like the American Wheelchair Mission deal with every day of the year. We are a very small part of filling the overall needs, but every donation coming from caring people is most wel-come and appreciated.

There are very generous fam-ilies and organizations work-ing throughout the Philippines to help the poor. Owners of companies deliver food to those in need, and basic med-ical care is provided by doc-tors not drawing a salary or being paid for their services. These are the kinds of heroes who silently live the Gospel in their every day lives and do what they can to make a dif-ference. We are thankful to

work with them in the course of our mission.

St. Francis of Assisi Catho-lic Community in Henderson, Nevada and Knights of Co-lumbus in California and Tex-as sponsored the delivery of more than 1,200 wheelchairs and other mobility devices to the Catholic diocese of Occi-dental Mindoro, and the arch-dioceses of Davao and Cace-res. These were distributed throughout the Philippines in conjunction with the Compas-sionate Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, Ateneo de Davao University and the diocese of Occidental Mindoro.

The islands of Mindoro, Mind-anao and Luzon were visited by Knights of Columbus from California, Nevada and Flori-da, and Fr. Vicente “Vic” Pan-aligan of St. Francis of Assisi who is also a Knight. Fr. Vic said, “It is a blessing for me to represent our parish and all the generous people who have made the delivery of these wheelchairs possible.” He continued, “The bishops, priests and local Knights of Columbus are all helping us reach the people in real need of our help.”

The distribution team de-livered wheelchairs at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in San Jose, Mindoro, at the Ateneo de Davao University and the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Naga

City, as well as directly to homes of the needy on each of the three islands.

The lives of many resilient people are back to normal after the devastation of Ty-phoon Haiyan in November of 2013, but the relief organiza-tions on the ground still have much work to be done.

To support ongoing efforts of serving the poor in the Phil-ippines please visit Catholic Relief Services at CRS.org – go to “Where we serve” click “Asia” – click “Philippines.”

There are many organizations that will take your donations for the Philippine people, but Catholic Relief Services is one of the very best. They will make sure your donation gets through the red tape, and directly helps the people in need.

Extremes in the Philippines

Liaza was so happy to get her new wheelchair

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Archbishop Rolando Tirona of Naga City, Philippines, delivering wheelchairs to a group of needy parishioners

These kids all volunteered to help with the wheelchair distribution in San Jose, Mindoro

Father Vic of St. Francis of Assisi in Henderson, NV with the nursing students from Ateneo de Davao University in Davao City

Archbishop Rolando Tirona blesses Tesalonica Parena with local Naga City Knight, Pete Real


Sister Paula Vargas runs the retirement home for nuns in Naga City

6


The Teleton Rehabilitation Centers for Children through-out Mexico are saving the lives of children who have been disabled by diseases from birth or injury. Through their televised “Teleton” each year since 1996, they have raised the funds to build 23 of the most advanced and beautiful centers in Mexico, and have established their first “CRIT USA” center in San Antonio, Texas.

The combination of medical and holistic therapies are al-lowing children to live hap-pier and more productive lives. Parents are directly involved in the therapies at the CRIT centers, and con-tinue the process at home. This approach is allowing children with afflictions such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and other condi-tions to live better lives, and makes it easier for parents to care for them.

One of the most common needs of the families bring-ing their children to the CRIT centers is a wheelchair. The minimum purchase price for a used wheelchair in Mexico

is approximately $100, and most families just cannot afford it. Since 2005, CRIT centers have received thou-sands of wheelchairs do-nated by Knights of Colum-bus, allowing children to go to school, and relieving the parents of the need to carry their child everywhere they go.

Physical therapists tell us the exercise a child gets by moving themselves in a wheelchair is very good for their upper body muscles and it serves as a release of energy that all children have an abundance of.

The ability for a child to go outside and play with their siblings is also a very impor-tant part of their mental well being, and going to school for the first time after receiv-ing a wheelchair is a life changing experience.

The ease of transport a par-ent gets with a wheelchair means that children can go more places like church, the market, or just on errands because they are easier to move around. During many conversations with parents carrying large teenagers, we have been told the wheel-chair is an answer to their prayers, and the smile on their child’s face is priceless to them.

After a recent wheelchair

distribution in Guanajuato, MX, the American Wheel-chair Mission team visited an outdoor market and found one of the kids who had just received a wheelchair several hours earlier. This was the first time his mom was able to take him to her small clothing stand at the city market where she sells the clothes she makes. He was very happy to be there to help his mom and see all the people.

The gift of wheelchairs to the patients at the CRIT centers is getting the most needed assistance directly to the families in need, and they are very, very grateful.

Saving Children in Mexico

Jesus, 14, had to be carried by his mom everywhere he went

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There are currently twenty-three world class CRIT centers in Mexico

Rodrigo Lopez has a new friend in Guanajuato, Mexico

No words are necessary for this boy to tell us how happy he is

Luis has a very bright outlook on life Chuy Santos, 6, loves his brand new wheelchair

CRIT staff work with children in all areas of learning skills Jesus really likes his new mode of transportation

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Since 2010 the American Wheelchair Mission has dis-tributed several thousand wheelchairs in Israel and the Palestinian territories of Is-rael.

The trip is really a pilgrimage to one of the most wonderful places on earth. Within the walls of the old city of Jerusa-lem we visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Western Wall, and some of the most memorable sites in the history of our world. Traveling north we stay in Tiberius on the Sea of Galilee and visit sites such as the Mount of Beatitudes, the site of the Miracle of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes in Tabgha, St. Peter’s home in Capharnaum, Mount Tabor and the Golan Heights. We stay in Haifa and Tel Aviv with beautiful views of the Mediterranean, and we visit people who are excited about us bringing wheelchairs.

From Tiberius we are a short drive from Cana and Naza-reth where we deliver wheel-chairs to individual homes with Fr. Francis Maria and the nuns of the Franciscan Wed-ding Church in Cana. There

is a considerable population of Israeli citizens who are of Palestinian Christian descent, and many are in the position of needing a wheelchair.

The Tennessee and Texas Knights of Columbus spon-sored our most recent con-tainer of 280 wheelchairs. Tennessee PSD Bill Wicke and his wife Janet lead the team in the giving of wheel-chairs.

Our first distribution in Jeru-salem was to the “Princess Basma Center for Disabled Children,” in association with Caritas Jerusalem. From there we traveled through-out the city with Rabbis Yossi Swerdlov and Menachem Kutner of the “Chabad Ter-ror Victims Project,” bringing much needed wheelchairs into the homes of retired po-lice officers and military per-sonnel who were injured in the line of duty.

Wheelchairs were delivered in the northern cities of Naha-riya, Nesher and Haifa, and six of the recipients in nursing homes were Holocaust survi-vors from Romania and other countries in Eastern Europe.

We have always experienced great relationships with peo-ple working together to help those in need of mobility. From our purely humanitar-ian perspective, the rhetoric spewed out by the political

machines on both sides of the border does not originate in the hearts of the great major-ity of the people in Israel.

There is reason to be optimis-tic about the future of working to help the physically disabled residents of Israel. Wheel-chairs are very expensive and hard to acquire for people who are not wealthy, so our gift makes a substantial impact on their ability to have a new start, and a new life. Hope for the future may prove to be the best path for lasting peace.

A Path of Peace in Israel

Saleem Grayeb of Cana receives a blessing from Fr. Francis Maria

Tennessee PSD Bill Wicke is thanked by Rafi Mazliah, 76, in Haifa, Israel

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Girias Hadas, 5, at the Princess Basma Center in JerusalemRomanian Holocaust survivors received wheelchairs from the Knights at this nursing home in Nesher, Israel

Meir Grosmarn of Jerusalem has a custom seat that fits into his wheelchair

Tennessee PSD Bill Wicke is thanked by former policeman, Roni Gozlan, who lost his legs in a suicide bombing

Hadas Kagan received her wheelchair at the Chabad Center in Jerusalem

Fr. Francis Maria and the Franciscan Sisters of the Cana Wedding Church participate in home deliveries of wheelchairs in Nazareth with Tennessee PSD, Bill Wicke

Former police officer Dror Shemeshe, 65, with Rabbis Menachem and Yossi cried tears of joy because he can finally be independent again

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Knights of Columbus have sponsored the delivery of thousands of wheelchairs to people throughout Vietnam. On our most recent visit, 600 wheelchairs were sponsored by Knights in Texas, California and Missouri. Through Cari-tas Vietnam, people in need of mobility in all 26 Catholic dioceses of the country have been helped.

During this latest visit, three returning veterans joined our wheelchair distribution team. Troy Chesnut of Odessa, TX first deployed to Vietnam in 1965, Paul Fehmel of Dallas, and Bob Read of Ocala, FL ar-rived in 1968. None had been back to Vietnam until our most recent trip to deliver wheel-chairs.

The first distributions were in and around the Catho-lic churches in Hanoi for two days, then to Hai Phong for two days, Danang for two days and then to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Southern Vietnam for the remaining three days. The road trips be-tween the Caritas offices and the Catholic Churches were sometimes 4-5 hours, and

one distribution in the South took us to within 6 miles of the Cambodian border.

The stories of lives changed for entire families ranges from the children who can now go to school in their new wheel-chairs, to the teens and adults who can go to work because of their newfound mobility, and the elderly who can get out of a bed or a hammock for the first time in years to attend church, socialize with neighbors, or just go outside by themselves to tend their garden. The simple gift of mobility changes lives of entire families, and an-swers their prayers.

The experience of returning to Vietnam was eye opening for the three veterans. They were surprised by the warm wel-come into every home we vis-ited, and the thankful embrac-es from every family member.

A 23-year-old young man named Do Cong Trong had to be carried by his father ev-erywhere he went, since be-ing injured in a motorcycle accident. But the moment he received his new wheelchair, he was able to move himself back to the family’s rice cake factory behind their home, and immediately contribute to the well being of his family. This was a joyful moment for him, his family, and especially his father, who can now rest from carrying his adult son every-where he goes.

After many miles of travel and many lives changed, the distribution team met with Fr. Vincent Vu Ngoc Dong, Direc-tor of Caritas Vietnam at their offices in Saigon, and had lunch with the staff. At lunch, a gentleman who works for Caritas asked Troy and Paul if they had been to Vietnam be-fore. They said they had, dur-ing the war. He then told them that during the war he was Viet Cong. And Paul promptly ex-claimed, “So you’re Charlie!”

Feelings from the past were put aside for good, and the healing embrace of new friends working together to do God’s work on earth, made ev-eryone smile and vow to return for more.

Lives Changed in Vietnam

Nguyen Xuan Han, 78, of Hanoi has spent the past 4 years in his bed

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Nguyen Van Son, 64, and his family pray for a blessing in Hanoi

Do Cong Trong, 23, was immediately able to go to work in his family’s back-room rice cake factory in Haiphong, Vietnam with Father Kien looking on

Dallas Knight, Paul Fehmel, carries Le Dai Phuong, 65, to his wheelchair in Ba Ria, Vietnam

Nguyen Van Ly, 62, of Hanoi can go to work now for the first time is 6 years

This little lady thanks Troy for the blessing of her new wheelchairNguyen Thi Hong, 86, of Hanoi was so excited to try out her brand new wheelchair

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There is lots of conflicting infor-mation when researching the number of wheelchairs needed in the world. Some estimates say 25 million people and some say 250 million people. Our estimate is more than 100 mil-lion people worldwide need a wheelchair, cannot afford one, and no other mobility device will provide the same type of assistance.

In African countries, Angola leads the pack with some 20% of the population of 12 million people physically disabled by decades of civil war, unexplod-ed ordnance and lack of health care. Sierra Leone is close be-hind, and then come many oth-er countries at around 10% of the population being physically disabled. Kenya’s population of 45 million translates into ap-proximately 4.5 million people in need of a wheelchair.

The California and Texas Knights of Columbus answered the call for wheelchairs to the Diocese of Eldoret, Kenya. Bishop Cornelius Korir acted as consignee for the container of 280 wheelchairs sent by the American Wheelchair Mission.

The first wheelchair distribu-tion was held at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Eldo-ret. Fr. James, who traveled from North America to be at the ceremony, was instrumental in getting the wheelchairs sent. He had spent years in Eldoret and knew the people and the needs of the poor very well.

It is a life changing experience the first time a person sees a grown man or woman crawling on the ground to get where they have to go. It is humiliating for the people, and very danger-ous. The number one cause of death for a physically disabled person on the continent of Af-rica is snakebites. They can-not avoid the snakes, and must take their chances when crawl-ing through grass or brush. A wheelchair changes that com-pletely and delivers many gifts, including dignity, independence and protection from snakes.

Several orphanages received wheelchairs for the children who were not mobile, and the gift of mobility gave them even brighter hopes and dreams for the future. These are children who have suffered from polio, diabetes and leprosy among other ailments.

Administered by Catholic nuns, an orphanage 45 minutes north of Nairobi is the home for chil-dren who are HIV Positive. They were very well cared for, and the nuns had created a loving, nurturing environment

for children with this terrible disease. The sisters ask us to all pray for the health of the children, and for them to have the strength to always be there for them.

Africa is a very far away place, but with the dedicated efforts of the Knights of Columbus, some 10,000,000 Kenyan Catholics can count on us to keep them in our prayers, and do our very best to send more wheelchairs as soon as possible.

A Dire Need for Mobility in Kenya

This young man prayed for the gift of a wheelchair

People struggle to move themselves until they receive a wheelchair

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Some wheelchair recipients were carried for several miles

A young orphan in Eldoret was very happy to receive his brand new wheelchair

Bishop Cornelius Korir of the Diocese of Eldoret blesses the wheelchairs

One wheelchair can change the lives of an entire family

These orphan boys in Eldoret, Kenya are well cared for by the sisters of the diocese

Many people without mobility must crawl or be carried

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Knights of Columbus and Wheelchairs

Since 2003, Knights of

Columbus have spon-

sored the delivery of tens

of thousands of wheel-

chairs around the world,

and right here at home to

veterans and their fami-

lies in need of mobility.

Since 2007, Knights

across the U.S. have

been having “Wheelchair

Sunday” parish drives

to raise funds for the

delivery of wheel-

chairs. Beginning with

Assumption of the

Blessed Virgin Mary

Church in Pasadena,

California, where Fr.

Gerard O’Brien coined

the phrase “Wheelchair

Sunday,” this program

has spread across the

country and sponsored

thousands of wheel-

chairs.

The first 5 parish drives

in Southern California

raised enough money to

sponsor the delivery of

1,000 brand new wheel-

chairs and added more

than 150 new Knights to

the local membership.

Please visit the Knights

of Columbus page of our

website to learn how you

can host a “Wheelchair

Sunday.”

For more information, please contact:

Dan Moberg Chris Lewis Director of Public Education President 2600 E. Seltice Way, Suite A-172 2505 Anthem Village Dr., Suite E-602 Post Falls, Idaho 83854 USA Henderson, Nevada 89052-5505 [email protected] [email protected](208) 457-0745 (702) 580-0705

Sister Jenny helps a family bring their loved one into the Metropolitan Cathedral of Naga City, Philippines to get his new wheelchair

Please visit our website to watch videos of Knights delivering wheelchairs around the world, read articles or donate.

Knights of Columbus Newsletter 2014

Documents

Transcript of Knights of Columbus Newsletter 2014