UCP Wheels for Humanity

Wheels for Humanity is a non-profit organization located in North Hollywood, California. They refurbish donated wheelchairs and hand fit them to children and adults with disabilities in developing nations. They then partner with international health-care organizations to identify those in greatest need. With a team of volunteer health care professionals, each recipient is individually fitted to the wheelchair that best fits their needs.  Many factors contribute to the great number of the world's disabled, such as spinabifida, cerebral palsy, polio, landmines, war, natural disasters, spinal cord injuries and lack of adequate and timely medical care. In many developing countries, if you can't walk by yourself, you must crawl or be carried and are forced to live a life of confinement. UCP Wheels for Humanity is proud of their work to bring the freedom of mobility to thousands across the globe.  Since 1996, UCP Wheels for Humanity has helped more than 50,000 people with disabilities in more than 68 developing nations gain increased mobility and dignity. They will continue to do so with the help of our many generous supporters. Program Since 1996, UCP Wheels for Humanity's mission has been to provide increased self-sufficiency, mobility and education to people with disabilities throughout the world, without regard to political affiliation, religious belief or ethnic identity. Operating from a 10,880-square-foot warehouse in North Hollywood, California, staff and volunteers collect and refurbish wheelchairs and other ambulatory aid equipment. (A portion of our specialized pediatric wheelchairs are purchased new, at cost, from a partnering organization in the U.S.) The wheelchairs and equipment are packed and shipped to their partner organizations. To date, UCP Wheels has worked in over 70 developing countries. Finally, their teams of volunteer seating specialists organize seating clinics where the wheelchairs and equipment are individually fitted to each recipient - impoverished children and adults who would otherwise be unable to afford a wheelchair.  Destinations Served Africa Angola  Cameroon Chad Egypt Ethiopia Ghana Libya Liberia Mali  Namibia Nigeria Rwanda Sierra Leone Uganda Zimbabwe    Asia Afghanistan Armenia Cambodia  China India Indonesia Mongolia Myanmar North Korea Pakistan Palestine Phillippines Russia Sri Lanka Thailand Tibet Uzbekistan Vietnam   Middle East Gaza Iraq Israel Syria West Bank   Europe Bosnia Bulgaria Chechnya Moldova Poland Romania Ukraine   North America  Belize Costa Rica Cuba Dominican Republic El Salvador Guatemala Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama   South America Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Columbia Ecuador Peru Trinidad Venezuela