Organization provides low-cost wheelchairs
By Robert Cloud
Mobility 4 Vets is in its third location in the past decade.
With roots at the Wisconsin Veterans Home, the nonprofit organization was started as a wheelchair shop in King by local members of Disabled American Veterans.
After the DAV shop closed in October 2011, six of its volunteers decided to continue the operation at a new location on Grand Seasons Drive in Waupaca.
They reorganized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2012 and continued the work of repairing, restoring and redistributing manual and motorized wheel chairs, walkers, crutches and motorized scooters.
Since the fall of 2021, Mobility 4 Vets Wheelchair Shop has been located at 700 S. Industrial Drive.
“We’re all retired. Most of us are veterans. And we’re all volunteers,” said Jim Peterson, the organization’s current president. “No one is paid.”
Peterson said there are 22 volunteers working with Mobility 4 Vets.
He said the volunteers come from all branches of the service, including the Coast Guard.
Nearly half of them drive to Waupaca from Wisconsin Rapids.
Many of the volunteers have family members who need wheelchairs.
While they work primarily with veterans, Mobility 4 Vets also help families who need assistance with mobility.
“Everything is donated,” Peterson said. “The money we get when we sell them goes for expenses.”
Peterson said the shop has sold a $30,000 chair for $600.
“It’s based on what the customer needs,” Peterson said. “We can go down to zero.”
He noted the shop gave away a $62,000 motorized wheelchair to a youth with muscular dystrophy. The youth was the son of a veteran.
“We cater to veterans, but we will help anybody,” Peterson said.
In addition to the volunteers who help repair and restore wheelchairs, Peterson said Jim Klismet has been volunteering to plow the snow, while Jim Trantow has been volunteering to mow the grass.
“We are very grateful for how the local community helps us,” Peterson said.
Mobility 4 Vets is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday and Wednesday.
For more information, call 715-281-6175 , email [email protected] or visit www.mobility4vets.com.