Greetings!
Chariots of Hope started in 1998 with 'one' chair delivered to a small child in a hospital in South Africa. It was a moving event and inspired many of us on the board to want to do more for more people in our country and around the world.
This year I am delighted to report that we collected over 295 chairs and we sent out 150 to people whose stories each are unique and moving to hear. Compared to other years, Chariots has maintained the ability to collect, repair and ship over 150 chairs. Earlier in our operations we could report we shipped over 300 chairs, but they were not always refurbished.
In 2008, 87 chairs were repaired (cost $1305), in 2009, 91 chairs (cost $1365) and in 2010, 196 (cost $2940) at the Department of Corrections in Somers, CT. This is no easy or small project. Someone from the corrections department comes to our Bloomfield office with a truck and loads 50-75 chairs and takes them back to the prison. Then prisoners earn the right to work on our chairs and we pay $15.00 dollars a chair for the materials and labor. A prisoner gets a few dollars for their work, gets to feel good about something and we get 'almost new' chairs ready for shipping.
Shipping is a whole other story unto itself. We do have wonderful partnerships with Americares in Stamford, CT who come with their truck to take chairs and ship them in their crates to many different countries. We work with Hawkwing and other individual organizations to ship chairs around the world. Many times we do absorb the cost of getting a chair to an individual in this country or Canada and the cost of shipping in 2008 was $2029, in 2009 it was $3750 and in 2010 it was $3810!!!
We are a small, all volunteer organization. We rely on donations from our annual appeal, our golf tournament in May and the tea party in September. The events bring people together who know our work and who believe we make a difference every day to someone. Our circle of friends continues to grow each year.
This year we have heard some wonderful words back from those who have received chairs. Read more below. Michele Carney Executive Director, Chariots of Hope |
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Donation Stories and Thank You Notes | |
Hi. I am just sending out this e-mail to say THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DID FOR US. My father in law is very happy with his wheelchair we are from a low income family and where not able to provide a chair for him but I am very happy I found you and your charity may God bless you and all who helped out in this very good cause with the wheelchair know he can move around and go place in the house with out any help from anyone well only getting him in is the help he gets We are very HAPPY and again THANKSC. Martinez Dear Sr., I am Nancy M , Angel's sister. I am writing this email to gratefully thank you. I acknowledge last week's reception of the wheelchair. My family and I are very glad for this special gift that will be very useful in the recovering of my brother. He is very happy too. He sends his greetings and thankfullness to you. God bless you for your generosity towards low income dissable people. Thanks a lot.Nancy M. The chair arrived last night. What a blessing! My aide was able to take me shopping!!! I can hardly wait to use it to go to jazz rehearsal Sunday nite.Please tell everyone at CofH THANK YOU!God bless you!Cheryl  I received my chair on Monday evening. You just don't know how happy I was to go and do the grocery shopping on Tuesday.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MY FREEDOM.
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