Adult Crank P.E.T.
PET is a faith-based, volunteer-powered, humanitarian, and world-wide organization, operating as tax-exempt 501(c)(3) under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
PET Design
The PET has been extensively field tested and is designed to be:
- STURDY, in order to provide services for the rider for many years
- SIMPLE, to be easily maintained in outpost conditions
- LOW-COST, so the donor dollar can serve as many as possible – $250. This includes some shipping cost to a US point for loading onto an overseas shipping container.
PET Beginnings
PET began in 1995 when Reverend Larry Hills, missionary in Zaire (now Congo), Africa, told Reverend Mel West of the great need for three-wheeled, hand-cranked wheelchairs for victims of polio and landmines. Mel contacted Earl Miner, product designer and long-time friend and mission partner, and the process of the prototype design began.
In 1996, When prototype development was ready for field testing, four were shipped to Larry Hills with the instructions to put these in the worst place you can find, and see if they pass the test. Larry did, and the PETs did. Shipments began to Zaire, where Larry had set up a place to receive the frames, put on the wooden beds, and distribute them. See history for the full story.
PET Project Philosophy
The PET Project is not wed to just this particular model of machine. Besides raising funds for building PET vehicles, we collect other used mobility devices such as canes, foldable walkers, crutches, and wheelchairs. Even if they need minor repairs/replacement parts, we receive and send them on to one of our distribution partners, Hope Haven International Ministries, in Iowa. They refurbish used mobility devices and distribute along with our PETs in over 80 countries to date.
Pull P.E.T.
Our goal is the Gift of Mobility for all of God’s people in need. We will cooperate and share with anyone working toward that goal. We seek to involve lay persons in the Church as major servants in this mission. We want to work with all groups, religious or secular and seek to provide mobility first for those in greatest need and with least resources. We are open to serve and work with those whose lord is not Jesus.
Places of Use
PET Project has sent mobility to the following countries to date:
Child Crank P.E.T.
- Congo/Zambia: The frames and wheels for the PET are shipped there via container, and the wooden part (we call this the ‘bed’) is made and then distributed. Sometimes we ship the completed PET. They have 4,400 persons on a waiting list.
- Other areas: Afghanistan, Armenia, Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia, Brasil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, China, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Dominican Republic, Djibouti, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia (Russia), Gaza, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Botswana, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Republic of Latvia, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland,Tajikstan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, West Bank, Western Sahara, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have all received one or more PETs.