On July 13th 2019, members of the Helotes and North stakes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met at the San Antonio build location for Mobility Worldwide. They gathered to assemble hand-operated three-wheeled all-terrain vehicles, specifically following plans to add seats to these carts.
Working alongside service coordinator John Butler and President of Mobility Worldwide, Tom Martin, these 5 men and 1 woman weren’t afraid of getting their hands dirty and using the workshop’s machinery to get the job done right. The San Antonio build workshop is the smallest and the farthest west of all the Mobility Worldwide Affiliate Workshops, so that is about the limit on personnel. Despite this a lot can be done in such a limited work space.
Thousands of carts are built annually. Then packaged and shipped for distribution partners in several foreign countries – all at no charge to users who have either lost their legs to accidents, disease, or birth. Minor tasks of cutting, trimming, smoothing, attaching, tightening, fitting, greasing, painting, welding, assembling, packaging, and getting them onto the truck all combine for a finished product made by the of volunteers love for fellow citizens and human beings they will never meet or know.
James Stevens talks about about the wider blessings of building these vehicles, “The efforts by volunteers is amazing and has enduring blessings for both those providing the carts and those receiving them. Especially for those who have only minor mobility problems, whose world is expanded through the cart they receive. This equals a better and more prosperous life experience. The adage ‘many hands make work light’ is proven here. Each volunteer can do a little bit and provide a huge positive benefit for so many.”
Coordinator John Butler explains that his experience with Mobility Worldwide started after he got to know the founder, Tom Martin, working with him at Rackspace.
“Tom indicated a need for additional volunteers, and asked if I would help coordinate. This was my 3rd time at Mobility worldwide, and I find the experience very fulfilling. What they’re doing is tremendous, providing a way for those who’ve lost their legs with transportation to get to school, to a job, to church, to social services. Without which these people would have been hidden away in their homes relying on others to care for them. This provides a new sense of well being and self reliance to our Brothers and Sisters.”
Mobility Worldwide is a faith-based, volunteer-powered, humanitarian, and world-wide organization started in 1994. On September 26-28th they will be celebrating their 25th Anniversary in Austin, Texas at their national conference.
“Our goal is the Gift of Mobility for all of God’s people in need. We will cooperate and share with anyone working toward that goal. We seek to involve lay persons in the Church as major servants in this mission. We want to work with all groups, religious or secular and seek to provide mobility first for those in greatest need and with least resources.”
There are many wonderful opportunities to be had working with this great organization. On top of the actual assembly of the carts at the San Antonio build location there is development of hand-crank wheelchairs. LDS Charities develops and distributes wheelchairs by modifying donated wheelchairs from Deseret Industries. Mobility Worldwide is ready to revise their design to reduce overall weight. There is also assistance needed getting mobility carts delivered to the agencies who can reliably distribute them.
Richard Winmill capped his entire experience with these words, “Helping hands sometimes need to get really dirty in the service of others.” For sure the efforts made by these volunteers for Mobility Worldwide meets the essence of the commandment to love our neighbor as we love the Lord.