Wheelchairs of Hope

Wheelchairs of Hope had its roots in northern Japan when Daniel Penner, a 3 year old American boy living with his family in Yamagata, Japan became quite ill with a degenerative disease. He soon needed a wheelchair.  Thanks to many medical workers and the Japanese welfare system, every 4 years he was given a brand new wheelchair. Years later his mother, Mary Penner, learned that 20 million people in the world needed wheelchairs, and for many, a wheelchair cost more than their yearly income. This was especially troubling as she saw outgrown wheelchairs, some in excellent condition, sitting unused.

As a firm believer in the teachings of Christ, she knew that compassion is an integral part of faith, so began to do what she could.  In the fall of 2000 she and a friend began collecting used wheelchairs.  In 2002 they sent the first chair to China.  By 2005, they had sent over 20 chairs, and in 2006, formed a board of directors.  The project grew and a container of 113 wheelchairs shipped to Mongolia in 2007.  February 2008 marked the registration of Wheelchairs of Hope as an official Japanese NPO.  Since then hundreds of wheelchairs have been sent to over 10 countries.