KANSAS CITY, Kan. — In the little more than a month that has passed since the tornado struck Moore, Okla., many are still trying to get their lives back on track: rebuilding, replacing and restoring. But people with disabilities have all those challenges and more.
“A wheelchair for someone who needs a wheelchair is a fundamental item, it’s hard to have much quality of life without the basics and for them that’s a basic need,” says equipment manager Matthew Rumsey, “so this is replacement equipment for them to make sure they can do daily tasks and care for people who need care and make sure people can be as independent as possible.”
Rumsey got a list of items needed in Oklahoma and rounded up everything they could send. His co-worker and long time volunteer Keith Bailey says he can relate to what some of the people in Oklahoma are going through since he’s faced some hardships in his life too.
“We just want the people to know there are good people who helped,” said Bailey.
Rumsey says all this equipment is donated to them and then sold as a way for the agency to raise money and support its programs. So donating the equipment does mean the agency takes a financial hit, which is especially tough since grants and state support has been shrinking, but Rumsey says they don’t think of it as a sacrifice.
“Really we’re here to help and provide a service so that’s what we do,” he said.
The truck full of equipment is actually headed to Springfield on Tuesday and then the charity Convoy of Hope will haul it the rest of the way to Oklahoma.