Project
Goodwill is coming
to a lathe near you...
Take some wood, turn a saleable item and donate it. Items will be collected and sold at auction. Each turning will provide a wheelchair for someone in desperate need.
Project
Goodwill is a benevolent effort where woodturners can help those less fortunate
by providing them with a much needed wheelchair free of cost. Simply put, we'll
take a saleable wood turning, or other desirable item, and turn it into cash
which is then used to fund the purchase and delivery of a wheelchair to a third
world country individual. Each item donated typically will yield at least one
wheelchair and a huge smile on someone's face.
Early
in March 2006 the Central New England Woodturners (CNEW) were looking at ways
to give back to the community and provide a small measure of relief for people
in need. As it turned out, the then President Dave Eaton discussed the idea
with CNEW member Charlie Croteau who was active with the Free Wheelchair
Mission (FWM). This turned out to be a perfect fit since the FWM was a turn-key
operation, all CNEW needed to do was provide physical donations and FWM would
convert these into funds, purchase and deliver the wheelchairs. It is so simple
that it would have to be successful. In fact, Charlie being in a wheelchair
himself, has been active with the FWM for some time and the marriage of CNEW
and FWM seemed to be just perfect. He has many contacts in the area from whom
he collects a large supply of kiln dried wood, mostly from cabinet makers or
flooring companies. Single handed he brings in a load of this beautiful wood
and distributes it to turners at no cost with only the agreement that
"some" of the wood be returned in the form of a finished turning
ready for the FWM.
That's how it all started. So far to date CNEW has generated funding for more than 200 wheelchairs. That's 200 people whose lives are significantly changed. They no longer crawl in the dirt or wait for someone else to carry them... and what a nice feeling we get inside when we think of the good deed we've done. Best of all - it's so easy to do. The FWM takes our donations and holds fund raiser events where a donation of $48 or more rewards them with a nice turned item. The nicest turnings are shipped to California where an auction raises even bigger bucks. Every $48 makes for a assembled, delivered wheelchair
.
Seeing the success happen with CNEW, Charlie and Dave next began inquiries to other clubs like The Association of Revolutionary Turners (ART) if they too would be interested in joining the cause and of course the answer was an overwhelming yes. The big hearts at ART signed up to make items and donate them to help others. So far to date more than a dozen ART members have made donations, some with as many as 10 pieces and they're just getting going! It's truly amazing what generosity we turners have within.
What we need next is, you guessed it, more. More donations and more involvement from our own turners and more clubs involved. Spread the word. Perhaps this is an effort that will run wildly throughout the woodturner community. Many people are happy to help but can only do so if they know about the cause or are asked by someone. The most recent famous turner donation was a mini-hat by Johannes Michelson. He was simply approached about the idea and generously said "of course I'll help".
Please help out with a donation and tell others to become involved. If you spread "goodness" to others, then "goodness" will ultimately come back around for you when you are in need.
Contact Charlie Croteau (cpcroteau@verizon.net) or Dave Eaton (webmaster@cnew.org) for info as needed or see the Free Wheelchair Mission's website at http://www.freewheelchairmission.org/index.html