1994
Larry Hills, missionary in Zaire (now 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
1995
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 was known as 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
1996
Rodney Miner in Darby, Montana, began to build and ship carts and steel frame parts mostly to Congo/Zaire, where they locally add the wooden bed and then distribute the finished Mobility Cart.
1997
Bishop Machado of Mozambique saw the cart 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.
1998
Tom Algiere, shop teacher, was sent by the United Methodist Church to Mozambique where he set up two cart production shops which we helped support.
2000
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 carts 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.
2003
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.
2004
Over 1,000 carts 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
2005
PET NY – East Jewett (no longer in operation)
PET WA – Spokane (no longer in operation)
PET KS – Moundridge
2006
PET TX – San Antonio
2007
PET IA – Hawarden
The Pull cart was developed for those who didn’t even have upper body power or coordination.
2008
PET ME – Waterboro
PET FL – Jacksonville
2009
PET TX – Austin
PET MI – Holland
2010
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 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.
2011
PET IA – Leighton
PET MN – Twin Cities
2012
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 carts for more adjustability and comfort for the recipients.
2016 Mission becomes Mobility Worldwide for easier identification. Our production shop is now known as Mobility Worldwide MO-Columbia.
60,000th Mobility Cart delivered
2017
65,000th Mobility Cart delivered
Gold Status earned from Guidestar in recognition of financial transparency
2018
MW East AL/West GA Affiliate
73,000th Mobility Cart delivered
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.
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