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Delivering
Dignity
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| Land mines and polio outbreaks are realities in Third World countries where 20 million to 30 million people have lost the use of their legs. Many of these victims crawl from place to place. This tragic fact inspired a Missouri man half a world away to manufacture a little dignity for such people. | |||
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This is where new lives are created.
Natsound: “We build three of these in a half a day.”
Natsound: “We are getting pretty close to final design, I’d say.”
These volunteers are building PETs – Personal Energy Transportation vehicles.
Steve Baima / Volunteer: “The people we distribute the PETs to are crawling around on the ground. They have virtually no life whatsoever. Every one of these we produce is one more person up and mobile with a restored life and a new lease on life.”
Mel West / PET Founder: “Seven hundred sixty-one last year. We hope to do over 1,000 this year.”
The idea came from a friend of the PETs’ creator, retired United Methodist elder Mel West.
Mel West: “With our United Methodist work in Zambia, we have more there than any place. We’ve sent them 600 by now.”
Today, PETs are found in nearly 30 countries, assisting survivors of polio and casualties of war.
Mel West: “The need is utterly endless.”
While the demand far exceeds production, here the spirit is what keeps this project moving forward.
Mel West: “We’re doing the best we can one at a time to get the people up off the dirt and mud and give them dignity.”
At $250 each to build and ship, it’s a small price to change a life.
Delivering Dignity – Tag
This shop is in Missouri. A second recently opened in Florida and another shop is setting up now in Texas. Mel West and others hope this effort will just keep growing around the world.