Moundsville Organization Repairing Mobility Devices To Aid Others
Niamh Coomey Trending
A Moundsville nonprofit is repairing and donating used mobility devices -- a way to fulfill their charitable mission and help those with mobility issues have the freedom of movement they deserve.
The newly established Moundsville-based Amir Saghir 79, part of a side order of the Knights of Pythias, recently launched the program officially. The organization's motto is to "rise up the fallen" and helping people get around more easily is part of that mission.
Randy Whitlich, the chairman of the Mobility Program, said the idea started when a member said he knew a woman with two mobility devices that weren't being used and suggested that the group repair them and give them back to the community.
"It started with two and then it became four and five and different people just donated them to us," he said. "Now it's growing so we have a lot of people, this will make our second one given out. We're doing well, it's just a way to give back and help the community."
The group has been working together to reupholster the devices, check and repair the electric function and make sure they run smoothly.
"We have a lot of people here who are mechanics or electricians and whatever so we just got the books and started reading them and did what we could," he said.
Donations have been coming from all over the valley from people who have broken or unused devices sitting around their home.
"A lot of folks have these sitting around not being used and don't know what to do with them. We're willing to come and get them, carry them out and bring them here and get them off their hands," he said. "It's fantastic to see somebody getting some use out of them, it's fun."
The second person to receive a repaired mobility device through the program was Moundsville resident Kathy Cavanaugh. She said since she got sick with COVID-19, she has struggled to do things for herself and having the device will allow her more autonomy.
"It will give me some freedom to go around in my neighborhood because right now I've been pretty much confined in my house besides some friends and family that come up sometimes to take me places I need to go," she said. "Ever since I had COVID everything has gone kind of bad for me, I've had like four surgeries in the last year. It will definitely make a big difference for me. I can at least go get my own mail instead of having someone else go pick it up for me."
Cavanaugh said she never expected that she would get this opportunity, which made it even more meaningful to her.
"I just think it's fantastic, they're doing a wonderful job helping people," she said. "So hopefully this program will grow more in the neighborhood so people know they can count on the community to help them out."
The Dramatic Order of the Knights of Khorassan, which is responsible for the charitable work that the Knights do, is seeking donations of gently used mobility devices and monetary donations to cover the costs of refurbishing the devices. Donations can be made by contacting Chairman Randy Whitlach at 304-281-2113.