The Wheelchair Project was founded in 1985, after founder Patrick Young and his wife Junko made an eye opening trip to Nicaragua during the war. Nicaragua, like most of Central America had suffered through brutal dictatorship and war, - this was seen up close and personal when mothers brought their sick and dying children for help. There was no medicine available, an ongoing war, and lots of preventable misery.
The following year, $8000 dollars and about 1000 lbs of medical supplies and tools were collected and transported by volunteers to Nicaragua. Not surprisingly the money (sent through another organization) never made it to Nicaragua. The hand carried items did.
It was decided from that point onward that money would no longer be sent, instead aid would be delivered first hand. The only problem was that Nicaragua was about 4,000 miles from Fresno.
The next year, a Dodge Coronet 440 was gutted and used for transport to Mexico City, where aid was flown in. In 1988 a Ford one ton was driven directly to Nicaragua, and also resulted in a broken leg and multiple injuries for Patrick, and 3 weeks in a decrepit Nicaraguan hospital.
Conditions were horrible, (one syringe for everybody to share, no seats on the toilet, one inch of standing nasty water in the bathroom, (and that was the GOOD part :-) !) so it was obvious that ANOTHER project was needed.
Returning next year with 3 trucks, tools, medicine, wheelchairs (and a still broken leg) Patrick worked with construction groups who were building schools, clinics, and housing for war victims. They also asked him for DIESEL vehicles, not big gas sucking Fords.
As good diesel trucks are hard to find , luck smiled upon the project when local school buses went for sale. A Crown bus was purchased, a rack was installed, and the bus was stuffed to the gills and delivered to people in need. Since spare parts were unavailable during the war, another bus was dismantled (dirty work but interesting) and the parts were sent along with the bus
Now fifteen years later, the Wheelchair Project is working on its 13th delivery, and assists other groups with buses and supplies. Buses are available for other non-profits, and Patrick offers free advice and help for anyone looking to do similar projects. He has become a skilled mechanic, and his trusty 1970 Gillig bus sits in the backyard, ready for the next trip (summer of 2001).
Ongoing projects consist of the next aid trip to Mexico, and shipping a bus, trail bikes, and LOTS of supplies for projects in Haiti. To date, an estimated 75,000 lbs of aid have been delivered, along with 3 buses, 3 pickups, two heavy trucks, 3 small motorbikes about 100 wheelchairs, several tons of school supplies, countless tools, generators etc. and a LOT of spare parts to keep them all in service and working. Many local businesses offer also supplies and technical help to keep the project running, along with many helpful and wonderful folks involved in school transportation.
The project welcomes the participation and help of anyone who is interested!