HOW IT WORKS
From Mobility Equipment to Life-Changing Opportunity
Providing a wheelchair involves much more than delivering a piece of equipment. Hope Haven International Ministries works with volunteers, donors, manufacturers, shipping partners, and trusted organizations around the world to prepare mobility equipment and connect it with people who need it.
From collection and production through shipment and individualized fitting, each step helps ensure that a wheelchair is safe, appropriate, and ready to provide greater mobility, independence, and participation in everyday life.
From Mobility Equipment to Life-Changing Opportunity
Providing a wheelchair involves much more than delivering a piece of equipment. Hope Haven International Ministries works with volunteers, donors, manufacturers, shipping partners, and trusted organizations around the world to prepare mobility equipment and connect it with people who need it.
From collection and production through shipment and individualized fitting, each step helps ensure that a wheelchair is safe, appropriate, and ready to provide greater mobility, independence, and participation in everyday life.
The Journey of a Wheelchair
1
Collection
2
Production
3
Shipment
4
Distribution
1
Collection
Giving Mobility Equipment a New Purpose
The journey often begins when an individual, family, healthcare organization, church, business, or community group donates mobility equipment that is no longer being used.
Hope Haven accepts certain types of donated equipment that can be safely repaired, refurbished, and prepared for future use. Donations may be dropped off at designated locations or collected through organized equipment drives.
Volunteer drivers and transportation partners help move donated equipment to Hope Haven workshops and warehouses, where it can be evaluated and prepared for the next stage of its journey.
EQUIPMENT MAY
INCLUDE
Repairable manual wheelchairs
Crutches, excluding wooden crutches
Walkers and rollators
Metal or fiberglass canes
The Journey of a Wheelchair
1
Collection
2
Production
3
Shipment
4
Distribution
Collection
Giving Mobility Equipment a New Purpose
The journey often begins when an individual, family, healthcare organization, church, business, or community group donates mobility equipment that is no longer being used.
Hope Haven accepts certain types of donated equipment that can be safely repaired, refurbished, and prepared for future use. Donations may be dropped off at designated locations or collected through organized equipment drives.
Volunteer drivers and transportation partners help move donated equipment to Hope Haven workshops and warehouses, where it can be evaluated and prepared for the next stage of its journey.
EQUIPMENT MAY INCLUDE
Repairable manual wheelchairs
Crutches, excluding wooden crutches
Walkers and rollators
Metal or fiberglass canes
PRODUCTION
Built, Refurbished, and Prepared with Care
At Hope Haven workshops, volunteers and staff prepare wheelchairs for safe, long-term use.
Donated manual wheelchairs are inspected, cleaned, repaired, and refurbished. Worn or damaged parts may be replaced, and each chair is evaluated before it is prepared for shipment.
Hope Haven also manufactures specialized pediatric wheelchairs designed for children with significant mobility and positioning needs. These include the Hope Haven KidChair and Tilt KidChair, which are built to remain durable, adjustable, and serviceable in a variety of environments.
Every chair represents the combined work of volunteers, staff members, donors, manufacturers, and community partners.
SHIPMENT
Connecting Equipment with Trusted Partners
Once wheelchairs and mobility equipment are ready, they are organized and prepared for shipment.
Hope Haven works with established international partners to identify needs, coordinate logistics, receive equipment, and prepare for distribution. These relationships are essential because local partners understand their communities, know the people seeking mobility support, and help ensure equipment reaches the appropriate recipients.
SHIPMENTS MAY INCLUDE
Refurbished manual wheelchairs
Walkers, rollators, canes, and crutches
Replacement parts and fitting supplies
Hope Haven KidChairs
Tilt KidChairs
Transporting equipment internationally requires careful planning, coordination, documentation, and support from many organizations along the way.
DISTRIBUTION
Individually Fitted for the Person
A wheelchair should do more than move someone from one place to another. It should provide appropriate support, comfort, safety, and opportunity.
During a wheelchair distribution, Hope Haven team members and trusted partners work directly with each recipient and their family. Whenever possible, the wheelchair is adjusted and individually fitted based on the person's size, mobility needs, posture, environment, and daily activities.
FITTINGS MAY INVOLVE
Adjusting seat depth, width, and height
Making equipment modifications
Explaining how the wheelchair should be used
Adding positioning supports
Checking comfort and alignment
Helping families and caregivers understand the equipment
Some fittings may take considerable time, especially when a person has complex positioning or mobility needs.
The goal is not simply to distribute as many wheelchairs as possible. It is to provide equipment that can make a meaningful difference in the person's life.
2
Production
Built, Refurbished, and Prepared with Care
At Hope Haven workshops, volunteers and staff prepare wheelchairs for safe, long-term use.
Donated manual wheelchairs are inspected, cleaned, repaired, and refurbished. Worn or damaged parts may be replaced, and each chair is evaluated before it is prepared for shipment.
Hope Haven also manufactures specialized pediatric wheelchairs designed for children with significant mobility and positioning needs. These include the Hope Haven KidChair and Tilt KidChair, which are built to remain durable, adjustable, and serviceable in a variety of environments.
Every chair represents the combined work of volunteers, staff members, donors, manufacturers, and community partners.
3
Shipment
Connecting Equipment with Trusted Partners
Once wheelchairs and mobility equipment are ready, they are organized and prepared for shipment.
Hope Haven works with established international partners to identify needs, coordinate logistics, receive equipment, and prepare for distribution. These relationships are essential because local partners understand their communities, know the people seeking mobility support, and help ensure equipment reaches the appropriate recipients.
SHIPMENTS MAY INCLUDE
Refurbished manual wheelchairs
Walkers, rollators, canes, and crutches
Replacement parts and fitting supplies
Hope Haven KidChairs
Tilt KidChairs
Transporting equipment internationally requires careful planning, coordination, documentation, and support from many organizations along the way.
4
Distribution
Individually Fitted for
the Person
A wheelchair should do more than move someone from one place to another. It should provide appropriate support, comfort, safety, and opportunity.
During a wheelchair distribution, Hope Haven team members and trusted partners work directly with each recipient and their family. Whenever possible, the wheelchair is adjusted and individually fitted based on the person's size, mobility needs, posture, environment, and daily activities.
FITTINGS MAY INVOLVE
Adjusting seat depth, width, and height
Making equipment modifications
Explaining how the wheelchair should be used
Adding positioning supports
Checking comfort and alignment
Helping families and caregivers understand the equipment
Some fittings may take considerable time, especially when a person has complex positioning or mobility needs.
The goal is not simply to distribute as many wheelchairs as possible. It is to provide equipment that can make a meaningful difference in the person's life.
More Than a Wheelchair
A properly fitted wheelchair can create opportunities that were previously difficult or
impossible. Greater mobility may help a person:
Participate more fully at home
Attend school or church
Connect with friends and family
Access employment or community
activities
Move with greater comfort and safety
Experience increased independence and dignity
Each person's story is different, but the purpose remains the same: to help create greater opportunity through mobility.
More Than a Wheelchair
A properly fitted wheelchair can create opportunities that were previously difficult or
impossible. Greater mobility may help a person:
Participate more fully at home
Attend school or church
Connect with friends and family
Access employment or community
activities
Move with greater comfort and safety
Experience increased independence and dignity
Each person's story is different, but the purpose remains the same: to help create greater opportunity
through mobility.
People Make the Process Possible
Volunteers
Volunteers assemble pediatric wheelchairs, refurbish donated equipment, sort parts, load shipments, transport equipment, and serve on distribution teams.
Donors
Financial gifts help cover the cost of materials, production, transportation, international shipping, equipment fitting, and distribution.
Partners
Trusted international partners help identify recipients, coordinate local logistics, receive shipments, organize distributions, and provide important knowledge about the communities they serve.
Community and Corporate Partners
Churches, businesses, schools, service organizations, manufacturers, and community groups help collect equipment, provide materials, sponsor wheelchairs, and support volunteer efforts.
People Make the Process Possible
Volunteers
Volunteers assemble pediatric wheelchairs, refurbish donated equipment, sort parts, load shipments, transport equipment, and serve on distribution teams.
Donors
Financial gifts help cover the cost of materials, production, transportation, international shipping, equipment fitting, and distribution.
Partners
Trusted international partners help identify recipients, coordinate local logistics, receive shipments, organize distributions, and provide important knowledge about the communities they serve.
Community and Corporate Partners
Churches, businesses, schools, service organizations, manufacturers, and community groups help collect equipment, provide materials, sponsor wheelchairs, and support volunteer efforts.
Be Part of the Journey
Sponsor a Wheelchair
Help cover the cost of preparing and providing mobility equipment.
Donate Mobility Equipment
Give an unused wheelchair or other accepted mobility equipment a new purpose.
Volunteer
Serve at a workshop, help collect equipment, transport donations, or participate in a distribution trip.
Become a Partner
Work with Hope Haven International Ministries to help provide appropriate mobility equipment within your community or region.
Be Part of the Journey
Sponsor a Wheelchair
Help cover the cost of preparing and providing mobility equipment.
Donate Mobility Equipment
Give an unused wheelchair or other accepted mobility equipment a new purpose.
Volunteer
Serve at a workshop, help collect equipment, transport donations, or participate in a distribution trip.
Become a Partner
Work with Hope Haven International Ministries to help provide appropriate mobility equipment within your community or region.
Partners in Mobility
Hope Haven International Ministries does not do this work alone. Around the world, trusted partner
organizations help us collect, refurbish, deliver, and fit wheelchairs, bringing mobility, dignity, and
hope to the people who need it most. We are grateful for every organization that walks alongside us.
our Partners
Hope Haven International Ministries does not do this work alone. Around the world, trusted partner
organizations help us collect, refurbish, deliver, and fit wheelchairs, bringing mobility, dignity, and
hope to the people who need it most.
We are grateful for every organization that walks alongside us.
Upcoming events
Orthopedic Training Centre
Mobilize Mankind
Mission Haiti
Hope Health Action
RICD Wheelchair Project
Hope Speaks
Agape Mobility Ethiopia
Hope Haven West
AsOne Ministries
Moviendo Esperanzas
Fenixia Foundation
Medical Ministry International
Hope Mobility International
JUNE
5
Fishing Benefit
Spirit Lake, IA
JUNE
17
Golf Benefit
Spirit Lake, IA
AUG
28
Dueling Duo: Keys to the Garden
Spirit Lake, IA
Orthopedic Training Centre
Mobilize Mankind
Mission Haiti
Hope Health Action
RICD Wheelchair Project
Hope Speaks
Agape Mobility Ethiopia
Hope Haven West
AsOne Ministries
Moviendo Esperanzas
Fenixia Foundation
Medical Ministry International
Hope Mobility International
Locations:
Rock Valley, IA
Sioux Falls, SD
Orange City, IA
Rock Rapids, IA
Spencer, IA
Emmetsburg, IA
Estherville, IA
Locations:
Rock Valley, IA
Sioux Falls, SD
Orange City, IA
Rock Rapids, IA
Spencer, IA
Emmetsburg,IA
Estherville, IA
Le Mars, IA
Pipestone, MN
Sheldon, IA
Sibley, IA
Spirit Lake, IA
Sioux Center, IA
Storm Lake, IA
Worthington, MN
Le Mars. IA
Pipestone, MN
Sheldon, IA
Sibley, IA
Spirit Lake, IA
Sioux Center, IA
Storm Lake, IA
Worthington, MN
