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
1994
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
1995
Rodney Miner starts to build steel frames and ship PETs from Darby, Montana, to the Democratic Republic of Congo for final assembly
1996
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
1997
Tom Algiere, a shop teacher from Columbia, travels to Mozambique to establish two PET production shops
1998
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
2000
Jake and Gwen Royall establishes a production shop in Luling, TX
PET-TX Luling transitioned to PET TX-Brazos Valley in 2009
2003
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
2004
PET NY – East Jewett (no longer in operation
PET WA – (no longer in operation)
PET KS – Moundridge
2005
PET TX – San Antonio
PET IA – Hawarden
Pull PET developed for those without upper body power or coordination
PET ME – Waterboro
PET FL – Jacksonville
2006 - 2008
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.
2009
PET TX – Rio Grande Valley (no longer in operation)
PET MI – East Michigan
PET TN – Memphis
2010
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.
2011-2013
New shop opens in Saline, MI
PET celebrates 20th anniversary
2014
New shop opens in Carlisle, PA
The 50,000th PET Cart is delivered
2015
Pet International becomes Mobility Worldwide, and the 60,000th Mobility Cart is delivered
2016
Gold Status earned from Guidestar in recognition of financial transparency, and the 65,000th Mobility Cart is delivered
2017
Mobility Worldwide signs an agreement to establish a manufacturing affiliate in Bo, Sierra Leon, that employs people with disabilities
2018
Mobility Worldwide celebrates 25th anniversary
Columbia produces 1,856 carts
Mobility Cart 80,000 produced with parts from each manufacturing affiliate in the US
2019
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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