Missouri nonprofit provides carts for immobile individuals

Gary Moreau began volunteering for Mobility Worldwide in 2004, cutting the spools of chain that would arrive to the Columbia, Mo. facility. Moreau learned to snip the chain to length and attach it to handlebars down to the wheel of mobility carts, which would later get shipped around the world for use by individuals who have difficulty walking or are completely unable to do so.

Moreau then traveled to some of the faraway countries to see firsthand the impact of his volunteer work. During those eye-opening, heart-wrenching trips, Moreau met the people desperately in need of a mobility cart to take them where their bodies and wheelchairs couldn’t.

“It just kind of changes your life,” Moreau said, “when you help somebody off the ground.”

Mobility Worldwide assists people who have birth defects, polio, landmine injuries or other factors that have rendered them partially or fully immobile with the life-altering gift of a mobility or pull cart. These carts—which are built in a variety of sizes for both children and adults—are sturdy, long-lasting, simple to use and inexpensive to make, costing $425 per cart.

Moreau—now the executive director of the Columbia-based shop and a Mobility Worldwide board member—said he was simply seeking purpose in retirement when he started volunteering for the faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

“You can’t play golf or tennis or fish all the time,” Moreau said. “Most retirees are looking for something productive to do that gets you involved. You see the joy that comes from helping somebody. We helped 2,220 people get off the ground who have to crawl around because their legs don’t work. … It’s just some value in retirement to do something meaningful for somebody.”

USTA St. Louis begins involvement

Moreau wasn’t sure exactly how he got connected with Megan Kovacs, USTA St. Louis executive director, but he’s glad he did. Moreau recently relayed to Kovacs that Mobility Worldwide likes to send its cart recipients tennis ball cans as well. The cans either contain used tennis balls—which children love to play with—or are filled with a useful toolkit provided by Mobility Worldwide. Recipients then use the cans as storage containers around their homes.

“It was just a joy to talk to (Kovacs),” Moreau said. “She was real thrilled and thought they could help out. It will be amazing—this connection—and what they can do for us. It’s just one little thing we can do.”

Kovacs has already spoken with several local facilities about keeping their empty tennis ball cans and lids as well as used balls to give to Mobility Worldwide. The nonprofit also refurbishes sewing machines and ships them—along with used tennis balls—around the globe so kids have a toy to play with.

“I need 42 cans a week. We can’t get enough,” Moreau said. “I’m hoping all of the clubs and everybody will help us out and save them. The people really like the cans in Kenya. They are storage containers for little things—just something they don’t have available to them.”

Moreau and Kovacs are working together to figure out the pickup process. Mobility Worldwide’s Columbia location is planning to have someone drive to and from St. Louis every couple weeks, but Moreau said the nonprofit could use assistance in this area. Individuals interested in getting involved or donating to the organization can do so by clicking here.

“We are thrilled to partner with Mobility Worldwide,” Kovacs said. “The work this organization is doing is remarkable and we are honored to be a part of it, even if in the smallest way. While Gary apologized for any inconvenience it might cause to our organization to gather the supplies, I reassured him this was a solution and not a problem.

“It saddens me how many tennis balls and cans end up in landfills every year. We are always looking for ways to reuse, recycle, reduce. The new problem will be supplying the organization with more cans and balls than they can use.”