Barefoot Rick's Free Wheelchair Mission Donation Drive

Soles For Souls has set a goal in 2008 to raise $10,000 for the Free Wheelchair Mission. The Free Wheelchair Mission Organization is an outreach touching thousands of desperate souls, providing a means of transport to these crippled individuals throughout the world. The following is from their Mission Statement at www.freewheelchairmission.org:

Our Mission
“Transform lives through the gift of mobility to the physically disabled poor in developing countries as motivated by Jesus Christ”.

TWENTY SEVEN YEARS AGO, the sight of a crippled Moroccan woman crawling across a dirt road planted a seed that germinated in 1999 when Don Schoendorfer, founder of Free Wheelchair Mission, invested his education and professional expertise as a PhD Mechanical Engineer to create a simple, rugged, and inexpensive wheelchair. The mental picture of the crawling woman's anguish and loss of dignity had haunted him for years until God opened a path for Dr. Schoendorfer.

FWM believes that when Jesus Christ lived in this world, He had special love for the sick and crippled. We try to share the same concern now for the poor, especially those with physical immobility. The chairs are distributed free to those in need, regardless of one's religious affiliation if any.

For credit card or bank card donations:
http://fwm.kintera.org/barefootrick

To donate by check, please print and fill out the following form:
http://freewheelchairmission.org/PDF/donation_by_check.pdf

For all donation methods:
http://freewheelchairmission.org/donate.html

From the "Friday Story" of FWCM - Winning the Hearts of the Iraqi People - February 29, 2008

To date, we have shipped 14,525 wheelchairs to US military forces in Iraq.
When we started this program, they estimated that Iraq needs about 500,000 wheelchairs. This update just came to us this week from US Army Captain Colin J. McElroy, Civil Affairs advisor for the 3rd Iraqi Army Division (IA) stationed in Al Kasik, Iraq.
There is a subtle statement in Captain Colin’s message below that deserves mention. Imagine how well appreciated care packages from home are to our soldiers in Iraq. Note the sacrifice Captain Colin’s Civil Affairs team is making, giving up their care packages to help bond trust and cooperation! That is commendable!

The 100 wheelchairs that you sent us were such a success, that we have pretty much exhausted the supply in just a few weeks. I can't stress enough, how much they improve operations in our area. After we delivered 10 wheelchairs to one location, insurgents immediately moved in to do their own damage control and try to re-influence the population. We finally have the enemy reacting to our actions instead of us reacting to them.

I would like to ask if you can begin to send other shipments this way, as the Iraqi Army here is making great progress in civil affairs operations and it is having a drastic effect on the enemy. Your wheelchairs are a huge success.

Your organization and Operation Iraqi Children are the first organizations to send items our way. Up until just recently, my fellow advisors and I were relying solely on care packages from friends and family to assist with our civil affairs efforts. The donations that you sent are crucial in our continued success. Your wheelchairs have been the biggest hit so far and it seems that every village we meet is in desperate need. Additionally, for the Iraqi Army to hand out such nice wheelchairs is also extremely impressive to the Iraqi people and assists us with fostering cooperation between the villagers and the Iraqi Army.

As my legs and my bare feet carry me mile after mile in 2008, my prayer and desire is that others would once again be mobile through my barefoot running and your generosity.

For a little under $50, wheelchairs through FWCM are provided at no cost to those in the greatest need in third world countries. Any donation amount is gladly accepted! Won't you help? Please go to my Ambassadors For Mobility Donation Page or click the link below and give generously so that you might give wheels to one who has no legs. God Bless!

Barefoot Rick's KXAS-5 2008 Soles For Souls Kick-off Interview for Free Wheelchair Mission - 12/08/07