The Gift of Mobility

Since 2003, the Knights of Columbus have funded the delivery of tens of thousands of wheelchairs around the world. Through a partnership with the non-profit American Wheelchair Mission, the Knights raise funds to purchase necessary wheelchairs to donate throughout their respective communities. What has since been coined as “Wheelchair Sunday,” local parishes ask their communities to give back. One wheelchair costs around $250.

Since 2017, the Knights at St. Mark the Evangelist Council #7613 right here in San Antonio have donated 280 wheelchairs to The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation and the Friends of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Foundation. In turn, the wheelchairs are distributed to teams at The Children’s Hospital and CHRISTUS Santa Rosa’s adult campuses. The wheelchairs donated each year are used throughout the hospitals and gifted to patients who cannot afford one.

This fall, when the Knights at St. Mark the Evangelist got word that The Children’s Hospital, and both CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – New Braunfels and San Marcos were running low on wheelchairs, they got to work.

The Knights raised the funds and donated 48 wheelchairs to our Foundations. This November, The Knights delivered 28 wheelchairs to The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, 10 to CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – New Braunfels, and another 10 to CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – San Marcos.

CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – San Marcos immediately put their donated wheelchairs to use!

CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital-New Braunfels receives wheelchairs from the SA Chapter of Knights of Columbus. Jim Wesson, President (left) David Glazener, Vice President of Finance (middle) and Christine Schmidt, Chief Nursing Officer (right).

The Children’s Hospital was in need of smaller wheelchairs designed for children.

The wheelchairs were loaded up and delivered to CSRH-NB and CSRH-SM, we are beyond blessed!

“We are so incredibly blessed to have this friendship,” said Sister Michele O’Brien, “They are giving the gift of mobility back to our patients who otherwise would not be able to get around on their own. We are so thankful for their compassion and love for our ministry.”

To learn more about our mission, please visit ChildrensHospitalSAFoundation.org and FriendsFoundation.org