FARMINGTON — After years of collecting wheelchairs from around the state for Wheels for the World, Bernadette Harvell of Farmington decided she’d like to see how people actually receive the mobility equipment.

At the end of May, Harvell spent eight days in the city of Niteroi, outside of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, working with 25 other volunteers delivering and fitting the equipment to people in need.

She shared the experience with her fellow parishioners at Calvary Hill Baptist Church in Wilton on Sunday. Several members of the church supported the effort by donating and sewing items for her to take on the mission trip, she said.

Harvell is the state representative for Wheels for the World, a ministry of Joni and Friends.

Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, “who dove into shallow waters as a teen resulting in quadriplegia, “her ministry centers on encouraging and equipping people affected by disability, especially spiritually,” Harvell said. 

A speech therapist for SAD 58, Harvell said she has a “heart for people with disabilities.” It’s been her work for the past 25 years.

Each day in Brazil, teams of volunteers — consisting of a physical therapist, wheelchair mechanic, a support person and translator — adjusted the chairs to fit the person and taught them how to use them.

Harvell served as a support person, talking with the recipients, praying for them, singing to them, finding pillows to fit their body’s needs and filling their wheelchair bags with toys and other small items.

She said she was moved by the words of a child who finally received mobility: “Mom, we can go for a walk.” Harvell related other tales of many grateful people of all ages, some paralyzed by gunshot wounds, she said. All received a wheelchair and a Bible.

“It was a lot of work,” she said of the effort to fit and provide 215 wheelchairs. There were 225 wheelchairs shipped before the volunteers arrived.

Prisoners in several prisons across the United States can volunteer to be trained to restore wheelchairs, walkers, canes and crutches. From the prisons, the chairs are shipped to several countries around the world where volunteers help distribute them.

For about 10 years, Harvell has picked up equipment throughout the state and arranged transportation to MCI Shirley Prison in Massachusetts.

“It’s an added benefit of the program. Prisoners can learn a skill, be productive and give back to society,” she said.

Harvell became interested in the Joni and Friends ministry at a youth rally in the Netherlands. After moving to the states, she continued to follow the ministry.

While a church youth group was cleaning a former rest home in Strong, some wheelchairs were found. She contacted the ministry. Since then she’s volunteered to travel the state collecting equipment and promoting the ministry.

She’s held wheelchair drives and talked to groups such as the Rotary Club.

For more information or to donate equipment, contact Harvell at 778-2981. More information about the ministry is available at www.joniandfriends.org/wheels-for-the-world/

abryant@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link