Free Wheelchair Mission Announces Fifth Container of Wheelchairs Arrived for Panama

Irvine, CA, November 03, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Free Wheelchair Mission’s fifth container (550 individual units) of wheelchairs arrived for distribution in Panama. FWM’s Executive Director, Reed Hartley notes, “although Panama has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America, availability to clean water, sanitation, electricity and education remains poor.” It is estimated that nearly 26% of the population in Panama is considered living at or under the poverty line and do not have the means to purchase themselves a wheelchair or other mobility aid. By partnering with a local organization, Causes For Change International, to distribute the wheelchairs, Free Wheelchair Mission supports the efforts being made to serve the Panamanian population in need.

Since 2001, Free Wheelchair Mission (FWM) has provided more than 709,000 wheelchairs to persons with disabilities living in poverty in 90 countries around the globe. Free Wheelchair Mission serves throughout Latin America with nearly 33% of wheelchairs delivered there in the last year. The container of wheelchairs for Panama was a full order of FWM’s GEN_1 wheelchairs. About 75% of wheelchairs distributed by Free Wheelchair Mission is their GEN_1 wheelchair, a specially designed chair to be used in the rugged terrain of rural and under-resourced areas. FWM has been serving Panama since 2004.

About Free Wheelchair Mission: Free Wheelchair Mission (FWM) is a humanitarian, faith-based 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to “provide the transforming gift of mobility to the impoverished disabled in developing countries, as motivated by Jesus Christ.” Wheelchairs are distributed fully-assembled free of charge to recipients and are given regardless of race, gender, religion, or ethnicity. Since 2001, Free Wheelchair Mission has provided over 709,000 specially-made wheelchairs to individuals with disabilities in 90 countries around the world. They provide not only mobility, but share the gifts of dignity, independence and hope.