Project Goodwill update...

• The auction details are: 

  3rd Annual Boston Area FWM Fundraiser
  Doyle's Cafe, 3484 Washington St, Jamaica Plain, MA (617) 524-2345
  When: Thursday, June 8, 6:00pm to 10:00pm TENTATIVE

  Addt'l Info:
  Free Wheelchair Mission is a non-profit organization that provides basic and unique wheelchairs to disabled poor people around the world. For just $44.40 a wheelchair can be put into the hands of one who is otherwise crawling on the ground or dependent on caregivers for basic mobility. The gift of mobility is life changing for wheelchair recipients, their families and communities.
  
  Join us for a great evening of LIVE Irish and Folk music with the Flannery Brothers! Good food, drink and conversation is a given at the historic Doyle's Cafe. Lite appetizers will be provided. The founder and president of Free Wheelchair Mission, Don Shoendorfer will be with us to share greetings and the latest news from FWM. Party to give the gift of mobility! What an easy way to help many and have fun. A $25 donation at the door is requested.
  
  Check out www.freewheelchairmission.org for more information.
  
  Please feel to share with any you know who may be interested! All are welcome.
  See http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?inviteId=XOPRBMXMNMRGHMNTQSGD&li=iq&src=email

• A letter was sent to Shawn Roberts of Barre, MA to thank him for his donation of wood and formally confirm that we have started converting it into items to be sold to raise a charitable contribution.

• Dave Eaton circulated some photos from Charlie Croteau showing wheelchairs previously distributed by this charity.

So, Where are these funds going, tell me more?

                                 They are targeted for the Free Wheelchair Mission where $400

                                 buys 10 wheelchairs.

See their recent newsletter and pictures below -->
http://www.freewheelchairmission.org/

FWM Volunteer Newsletter
March 2006 

Hello FWM supporters and Happy Friday! As a THANK YOU for all of the hard work you donate to FWM – we’ll be sending out newsletters with additional stories and photos you may not see in the weekly Friday Story emails. We receive so many stories and photos that it is difficult to choose only one per week. This month I’ve selected some photos of wheelchairs being transported around the world. Arriving at port in a 40’ container is only the beginning of the journey for many of our wheelchairs. Sometimes they are unloaded onto smaller trucks at port – sometimes the containers are delivered to the distribution partners’ site. In Mexico, an entire community turned out to follow the huge container through the tiny, winding streets. It was a village event! The wheelchairs are loaded onto bicycles, cyclos, motorcycles and trucks and taken to people who cannot come to the distribution ceremonies. I am continually amazed by the transportation ingenuity of our distribution partners and wheelchair recipients – and continually thankful for the blessing of my very own car! The gift of mobility takes so many forms. I hope you enjoy a few snapshots of wheelchairs on the move around the world!

Grace and peace,
Mary Renee

Photos from the Philippines

It is very difficult to get containers of wheelchairs into the Philippine ports. We are currently working to coordinate a nationwide distribution network in the Philippines – connecting distribution partners to each other to share experience and responsibility.

 Photos from Viet Nam

We have sent 8 containers (4,400 wheelchairs!) to Viet Nam. 1,650 more wheelchairs (3 containers) will leave soon and we have received a request for more than 10,000 more!

 Photos from Mexico

These wheelchairs were delivered by a 4x4 club in Oaxaca. Many groups and individuals drive small numbers of wheelchairs to Mexico on missions trips.

 Photos from Costa Rica

FWM partners have distributed 2,200 wheelchairs in Costa Rica! Members of the local Boy Scouts, Police Department and other community groups turned out to help assemble a full container of wheelchairs in one day!