Electric Wheelchair and Mobility Scooter Giveaway

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2015/12/17 - Updated: 2025/01/06
Publication Type: Announcement
Topic: Mobility Aids and Devices - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Phil Pavone, owner of AZ Pawn in Norwich Connecticut, donates 60 motorized wheelchairs to people with disabilities this Christmas. If you read these letters it will break your heart. Some are missing limbs, have cancer, MS, ALS, you name it. Somehow they fall through the cracks and are denied a motorized chair.

Introduction

AZ Pawn in Norwich, CT takes donations of and purchases used electric scooters, refurbishes them and gives them away to those who need them.

Main Item

For the last 6 years Phil Pavone owner of AZ Pawn in Norwich, Connecticut has been purchasing and receiving donations of unwanted motorized wheelchairs. He refurbishes them and gives them away to the disabled at Christmas. He calls it "The Gift of Mobility Giveaway". To date he has given away nearly 300 motorized wheelchairs.

Each November he advertises for those in need to write in and "Tell him their Story". He wants to know what their disabilities are, then matches the chair to the individual. Each year he has a giveaway party.

"If you read these letters it will break your heart. Some are missing limbs, have cancer, MS, ALS, you name it. Somehow they fall through the cracks and are denied a motorized chair. Some of these individuals have not left their homes for years", said Pavone.

These chairs have a starting cost of $3500.00 and can be as much as $50,000.00 The cost puts the chairs well out of reach for those who cannot afford them. The irony is that throughout the U.S. there are thousands of these unwanted chairs out there. There are families whose loved ones have passed on or gotten better and no there are no programs in place to pass them on to those in need.

There is no reason that this cannot become a national event with many more volunteers in each state doing the same. Perhaps in each state they could create a drop off point where unwanted chairs could be donated, refurbished and given away free of charge.

He is asking everyone throughout the country to get involved by spreading the word. To do so people can share videos from YouTube. They are listed under AZ Pawn gift of mobility 2013 and AZ Pawn gift of mobility 2014.

Pavone says that these videos can be placed or forwarded on social media to help raise awareness for the event. Sharing the videos can offer an example of how others can start similar efforts.

Author Credentials: Ian was born and grew up in Australia. Since then, he has traveled and lived in numerous locations and currently resides in Montreal, Canada. Ian is the founder, a writer, and editor in chief for Disabled World. Ian believes in the Social Model of Disability, a belief developed by disabled people in the 1970s. The social model changes the focus away from people's impairments and towards removing barriers that disabled people face daily. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and achievements, check out his bio.