Mobility Worldwide MN - Twin Cities

Mobility Worldwide Minnesota - giving the gift of mobility one cart at a time!

Mobility Worldwide Minnesota (fka PET MN - Twin Cities).  We build and distribute rugged, three wheeled, hand powered carts for use in undeveloped countries by people who do not have use of their lower limbs.  These people may be victims of disease, birth defects, landmines, torture, and other injuries.  In these societies, such people are often relegated to the lowest rung of the social ladder because the societies cannot cope with these problems.  They often find themselves literally living in the dirt of huts in small villages.  The needs of these people were identified by missionaries in Africa, first,  Prototype carts were built and sent there for trial.  They performed wonderfully.  The demand worldwide is estimated  at between 15 and 20 million.  Through the end of 2011, a little over 30,000 have been constructed and distributed.  Distribution has been made in 92 countries.  There are 23 other affiliates, or production sites, in the US, and three overseas.  The average cost of a cart, including shipping to a port in the US, is $300.  We would like to be producing at least 500 per year, so the easy math says that $200.00 is needed for materials and shipping alone.  Overhead is as low as possible because we have no paid staff.  The carts are simple in construction, easy to maintain (as opposed to conventional wheelchairs), and with enough hauling capacity to give recipients the opportunity to earn some type of living.  We have many photos and videos linked to this story on our web site, http://mobilityworldwide.org/affiliates/minnesota-twin-cities/.  Our labor is all volunteer and in addition to building carts, our mission includes providing meaningful work for older and retired people.  The organization is faith based but not affiliated with any particular denomination.  So far our shop in Minneapolis has produced over 200 carts and distributed them in many different countries.