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Engleman Elementary School Character Council organizes fund drive for wheelchairs
Engleman Elementary School's Character Council is leading a fund drive to raise money for the Free Wheelchair Mission organization, said Engleman counselor Sherry Jones.
Joe Prickett, an eighth-grader from Hastings, will speak to Engleman students at 8 a.m. Monday, Feb. 15, in Engleman's gym at 1812 Mansfield Road about the project. The money Engleman students raise is helping Prickett reach his goal of providing 5,500 wheelchairs to this non-profit organization.
So far, Engleman students have raised approximately $947 to purchase 16 wheelchairs. The cost per wheelchair is $59.20, Jones said. Engleman's Character Council is also selling snacks after school on seven days in February to raise money for the project.
Each grade at Engleman has a Build-a-Chair poster to keep track of donations. The posters are displayed on the cafeteria wall.
"For each $8.46 collected, a paper piece of a wheelchair image is added to the poster. It takes seven pieces to build one wheelchair," Jones said. "What is refreshing to me is that our students are doing this without receiving any tangible reward. I think they generously respond because they believe it's a caring thing to do."
Free Wheelchair Mission provides wheelchairs for impoverished, disabled people in developing countries. Since 2001, the organization has distributed more than 400,000 wheelchairs to people in 71 countries. The wheelchair components are a durable plastic lawn chair, two mountain bike tires, small front wheels, a steel frame, and footrest. Also included is an air pump. Wheelchairs are shipped unassembled and can be put together in approximately 15 minutes. Free Wheelchair Mission is distributing some of the wheelchairs in Haiti. More information about Free Wheelchair Mission is available at www.freewheelchairmission.org.
For more information, contact: Sherry Jones, Counselor, Engleman Elementary School, 1812 Mansfield Road, (308) 385-5902,
sjones@gips.org
It is the policy of the Grand Island Public Schools not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, handicap, religion, or marital status in its educational programs, activities or employment policies as required by Title VI, Title IX, &Section 504.EOE/AA.