Empowering People By Providing Mobility & More
History
Larry Hills, missionary in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), Africa, told Reverend Mel West of the great need for three-wheeled, hand-cranked wheelchairs for victims of polio and landmines. Mel contacted Earl Miner, product designer and long-time friend and mission partner; and the process of the prototype design began.
Larry Hills
Earl Miner
Mel West
When prototype development was ready for field testing, four were shipped to Larry Hills with the instructions to “put these in the worst place you can find, and see if they pass the test.” Larry did, and the Personal Energy Transportation (PET) Carts did. Shipments began to Zaire, where Larry had set up a place to receive the frames, put on the wooden beds, and distribute them. Later the operation moved to Zambia and is now PET Zambia at New Life Center, led by Delbert Groves, United Methodist Missionary, Kitwe, Zambia, Africa.
Early prototype with car-like seat
Early PET prototype
Rodney Miner in Darby, Montana, began to build and ship PETs and steel frame parts mostly to Congo/Zaire, where they locally add the wooden bed and then distribute the finished PET.
Bishop Machado of Mozambique saw the PET and requested a project there. Others did likewise. With limited funds and operating out of the West’s garage, and a room at Community United Methodist Church, the project grew.
Tom Algiere, shop teacher, was sent by the United Methodist Church to Mozambique where he set up two PET production shops.
Reverend Mel West set up a production, receiving and shipping facility in Columbia, Missouri USA. The PET Place facility receives parts made by volunteers and donated by businesses. Then the PETs are assembled and shipped to various areas of need around the world. Reverend Larry Hills set up a production shop in Penny Farms Retirement Center located in Penny Farms, Florida USA to focus on mobility needs in Haiti.
Jake and Gwen Royall, members of First Christian Church, set up a production shop in Luling, Texas USA. PET-TX Luling transitioned to PET TX-Brazos Valley in 2009. Luling Photos
Over 1,000 PETs are produced and shipped from across the US. PET International is incorporated.
New shops:
PET TN – Murfreesboro (transitioned to AL – North Alabama)
PET FL – Tampa
PET MO – Southwest
PET NY – East Jewett (no longer in operation)
PET WA – Spokane (no longer in operation)
PET KS – Moundridge
PET TX – San Antonio
2007
PET IA – Hawarden
The Pull PET was developed for those who didn’t even have upper body power or coordination.
PET ME – Waterboro
PET FL – Jacksonville
PET TX – Austin
PET MI – Holland
PET TX – Rio Grande Valley (no longer in operation)
PET MI – East Michigan
PET TN – Memphis
Mini-mart kits were developed as a way for some PET recipients near populated areas to sell items and earn a living. These are sent with PET shipments when requested by our distribution partners.
PET IA – Leighton
PET MN – Twin Cities
PET IN – DeMotte
PET UT – Northern Utah (no longer in operation)
2013
PET OH – Stow
Significant changes were made in seat design for the crank PETs for more adjustability and comfort for the recipients.
2014
PET MI – Saline
PET celebrates its 20th anniversary.
PET International becomes Mobility Worldwide
60,000th Mobility Cart delivered
65,000th Mobility Cart delivered
Gold Status earned from Guidestar in recognition of financial transparency
MW East AL/West GA Affiliate
73,000th Mobility Cart delivered
Mobility Worldwide signed an agreement with Mobility Sierra Leone to establish a manufacturing Affiliate in Bo, Sierra Leone and ensure that disabled people are employed as a workforce there.
2019
Mobility Worldwide celebrates the 25th Anniversary of its Founding.
Mobility Cart #80,000 is produced using parts contributed by each of the manufacturing Affiliates throughout the United States.
(standing L to R) John Rudd, Scott Walters, Jim Conn, Mel West seated on cart #80,000
2020
In February, 2020, great strides were made to establish a presence in Liberia. Mobility Worldwide leadership, including John Rudd, board chair and Scott Walters, executive director, traveled to Western Africa to sign an agreement with Samuel J. Quire, Bishop of the Liberian United Methodist Conference. A manufacturing site is planned for Gbanga, Liberia which will employ those who currently use wheelchairs.
