History
1994
- Larry Hills, a missionary in Zaire (currently the Democratic Republic of Congo), tells Reverend Mel West of the need for three-wheeled, hand-cranked wheelchairs for victims of polio and landmines.
- Earl Miner, product designer, mission partner, and long-time friend of Mel West, starts on the first Mobility Cart prototype
1995
- Four prototype carts are sent to Larry Hills with these instructions: “Put these in the worst place you can find and see if they pass the test.”
- Prototypes pass the testing phase and earn the name Personal Energy Transportation (PET)
- Shipments begin to Zaire and later moved to Zambia
1996
- Rodney Miner starts to build steel frames and ship PETs from Darby, Montana, to the Democratic Republic of Congo for final assembly
1997
- Bishop Machado of Mozambique sees the PET for the first time and requests a project there
- Operations run primarily out of Rev. Mel West’s garage and one room at Community United Methodist Church in Columbia, MO
1998
- Tom Algiere, a shop teacher from Columbia, travels to Mozambique to establish two PET production shops
2000
- Rev. Mel West establishes a production shipping and receiving facility in Columbia
- Rev. Larry Hill creates a production shop in Penny Farms, FL, focused on mobility needs in Haiti
2003
- Jake and Gwen Royall establishes a production shop in Luling, TX
- PET-TX Luling transitioned to PET TX-Brazos Valley in 2009
2004
- Over 1,000 PETs 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
2005
- PET NY – East Jewett (no longer in operation
- PET WA – (no longer in operation)
- PET KS – Moundridge
2006 - 2008
- PET TX – San Antonio
- PET IA – Hawarden
- Pull PET developed for those without upper body power or coordination
- PET ME – Waterboro
- PET FL – Jacksonville
2009
- PET TX – Austin
- PET MI – Holland
- Mini-mart kits were developed as a way for some Mobility Cart recipients near populated areas to sell items and earn a living. These are sent with cart shipments when requested by our distribution partners.
2010
- PET TX – Rio Grande Valley (no longer in operation)
- PET MI – East Michigan
- PET TN – Memphis
2011-2013
- New shops start in Leighton, IA; Twin Cities, MN; DeMotte, IN; Northern Utah; Stow, OH
- Significant changes were made in seat design for the crank carts for more adjustability and comfort for the recipients.
2014
- New shop opens in Saline, MI
- PET celebrates 20th anniversary
2015
- New shop opens in Carlisle, PA
- The 50,000th PET Cart is delivered
2016
- Pet International becomes Mobility Worldwide, and the 60,000th Mobility Cart is delivered
2017
- Gold Status earned from Guidestar in recognition of financial transparency, and the 65,000th Mobility Cart is delivered
2018
- Mobility Worldwide signs an agreement to establish a manufacturing affiliate in Bo, Sierra Leon, that employs people with disabilities
2019
- Mobility Worldwide celebrates 25th anniversary
- Columbia produces 1,856 carts
- Mobility Cart 80,000 produced with parts from each manufacturing affiliate in the US
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.
Ohio – Stow
Production:
1445 Commerce Dr.
Stow, OH 44224
Check out people who
receive your mobility carts around the world.
Contact
Mobility Worldwide
Mobility Ohio
Postal:
Mobility Worldwide OH-Stow
4381 Hudson Drive PMB #169
Stow, OH 44224
info@mobilityohstow.org