Free Wheelchairs Gift Independence to Disabled Adults & Children in Costa Rica

Three of us from Right at Home Somerville—Rosaleen Doherty, CEO and Co-Owner; Celeste Begley, Community Relations Director and Victoria Guskiewicz, Community Relations Coordinator—joined Free Wheelchair Mission in late October/early November to assemble and deliver wheelchairs in Costa Rica.

The Right at Home delegates came from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Missouri and Nebraska. Led by Georgia Koos from Free Wheelchair Mission, our group worked with the Mission’s distribution partner Do It Foundation—Costa Rica to reach the recipients.

Free Wheelchair Mission has been fitting individuals into and delivering wheelchairs around the world since 2001. The organization has operated in Costa Rica for nearly a decade. As tropical storm Nate tore through Gunacaste a month ago and damages are still very visible, we recognized the tremendous need for support and assistance to the local people.

Supporting Disabled and Older Adults to Access Mobility Equipment

Right at Home began the partnership with Free Wheelchair Mission in April, 2017. Our care team was involved in fundraising for the cause—both staff members and caregivers of Right at Home Somerville, as well as our affiliates from the Haverhill Breakfast Exchange Club donated to support the mission.

Going through the entire process was immensely powerful—from fundraising to taking the journey to Costa Rica, assembling and delivering the wheelchairs, assisting recipients into their wheelchairs and obtaining mobility—we were humbled to be a part of this journey.

A Gift of Independence and Self-Confidence

As the wheelchairs brought a newfound independence to recipients, we also observed a lift in spirits in many of them. Some of them expressed their wishes to do things on their own, such as visiting families and friends, going outside—to work, to church, or to a beach. There was a sense of empowerment as they no longer need to rely on the help from their loved ones to navigate through life.

We feel blessed to help transform lives—providing home care services to help seniors and disabled adults to age in place here in Boston, supporting Free Wheelchair Mission that enables disabled adults and children to gain independence—we were reminded of our mission to continue improving the quality of lives for those we serve.

The gratitude and admiration from the wheelchair recipients struck a chord in our hearts. We cordially invite you to join us in helping to deliver the gift of mobility with Free Wheelchair Mission. For more information, please visit our info page.