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Methodist Men project brings joy They are one of over 30 men's groups across the USA who build parts for the PET units and ship them to either Missouri or Montana.
Inmates at the Moberly, MO, Correctional Center are assembling the PETs. The PET unit is a hand-cranked or lever-powered cart designed to provide mobility for persons who have lost the use of their legs due to polio, land mine injury, amputation, or other reasons. Land mines kill or maim one person every 20 minutes in countries where the war has moved on and left tragedy buried beneath a peaceful looking land. The major countries where the units are sent are the Congo/Zaire, Mozambique, Angola, and Rwanda. PET units have also been sent to Malawi, Western Sahara, Georgia (old Russia), Nepal, Vietnam, Mexico, Honduras, Kosovo, and India. Statistics show that there are 21 million people in the world in need of some kind of mobility assistance. In 1994, the Rev. Larry Hills and the Rev. Mel West, with the help of Earl Miner, Products Designer, started the PET Project in response to the tragic loss of mobility in Zaire due to polio and land mine injuries. The following year, Rodney Miner, out in Montana, began building and shipping frames to Zaire, where wooden beds were added and distribution took place. Since 1996, the PET Project has become widely recognized, and is now in 17 different countries. Rev. West is a personal friend of local Faith United Methodist Church minister, Rev. Ed Kail. When Rev. West shared his story about a missionary friend, who has served over 30 years in Zaire and seen the devastating effects of children and adults being crippled from land mines, polio and other injuries, Rev. Ed recognized a need that his Methodist Men's Club could fulfill. Although their club has few members, there were immediate positive responses to the PET Project. Alan Anderson volunteered to become the coordinator. Workers on the first operation last winter included Alan Anderson, Norm Philby, Perry Slaikeu, and Don Day. Jim Strachan turned over his farm workshop for the project, and also helped cut and saw. Phil Reefer lined up volunteers to walk with a completed unit, that was driven in the 4th of July parade last summer, so the public could view the finished product. It attracted a lot of attention. A second round of production for the Methodist Men, who produced parts for 45 units last winter, has just been completed. The work crew this time included Alan Anderson, Mike Sanford, Norm Philby, Richard Lindaman, and Jim Strachan. Having some lumber left over allowed the men to make enough parts for 55 units this time. The parts were bundled and loaded into a pickup truck, loaned by the Rev. Cliff Ellerbeck, on Feb. 17. Alan and Dorothea Anderson left the same day to make the delivery to Columbia, MO. Time and travel expenses are covered by the volunteers. Supplies are paid for out of donated funds. The Faith United Methodist Women recently presented a $500 check towards the PET Project. Each unit takes $15 worth of wood, so more funds will be needed to continue with further operations. Donations may be brought in or mailed to the church office, designated in care of the Faith United Methodist Men's PET Project. A load of double-dried lumber is due any day now at the Gilmore City Lumber Store, and the men hope to get started soon on turning out parts for another 45 carts. This will allow 45 leg handicapped children or adults to receive the gift of mobility, and no longer have to crawl or scoot along in the dirt on the seat of their pants. The thrill of mobility, as seen in pictures of the faces of the recipients, is indescribable. |
These participating groups cut and shape the wooden pieces of the cart and ship them to the centers where they are assembled. The metal works are added to the frame, including handles, sprockets, chains, small wagon-size wheels, and a padded seat. The completely assembled cart is then sent to its destination overseas.