Local business collecting wheelchairs to donate

By Ashley Luthans

A wheelchair drive is happening in St. Joseph on Friday, Nov. 22, asking people to donate wheelchairs, walkers and canes.

Spine and Sport Physical Therapy is hosting the drive for “Wheels for the World” which is part of the Joni and Friends organization.

The drive aims to bring mobility devices to people with disabilities in countries with less resources.

Once donated, the mobility devices are sent to prisons to be restored by inmates before being delivered to their final destination.

Owner of Spine and Sport, Fred Shonkwiler, said that they accept donations all year long.

“We hope to be able to do this year-round and, you know, that the community becomes aware that we are a distribution site for these needs,” Shonkwiler said. “So if you’ve got a wheelchair, walker or cane, anytime during the year we are a collection site for Joni and Friends.”

Shonkwiler said that he and his wife are planning to go on “mission trips” in the future to distribute the mobility devices.

As of Friday morning, the business had collected ten wheelchairs and a trailer full of walkers.

Spine and Sport is located at 1213 north Belt highway and will be collecting mobility devices until 5 p.m. on Friday.