Wheelchairs for Trinidad Children

On the site of the Princess Elizabeth School for Handicapped Children (established in 1953 to provide for the needs of children with polio and a variety of birth defects), representatives from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints handed over 203 wheelchairs, 47 “rough rider” chairs, dozens of canes and an assortment of walkers for children and adults. In a productive and longtime partnership with Missions International, the Church’s most recent humanitarian service project in the Trinidad/Tobago was the 7th donation of wheelchairs since 2002. These 250 chairs are among more than 300,000 distributed by the Church in 112 countries worldwide in the past 20 years – and, valued at $3,000,000.

Today's event was orchestrated by Elder and Sister Angus, WIM Humanitarian missionaries (from Vernal, Utah) with support from West Indies Mission President Gamiette and Trinidad Stake President Gould. In thanking the Church for their donation, a representative of Missions International said, “this is not a job. It is an act of love, commitment, dedication and frustration . . . and the joy of coming together to assist those in need.”

The celebration ended with a delicious box lunch and the announcement of the extension of the partnership between the Church and Missions International. The next project for the two humanitarian organizations will be a “first ever” Easter camp for 300 children from disadvantaged homes in Trinidad/Tobago.