Production Shop
Mel and Barbara West Cart Center
We moved in July 2020 and are now fully in cart production & shipping mode.
Directions:
South on Hwy 63, right on Discovery Parkway exit, then left on Ponderosa St. 1 ½ miles, straight onto Meyer Industrial Drive, lot on left/east
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New Workshop Under Construction
Volunteers and visitors to the Mobility Worldwide MO – Columbia workshop who are used to dodging carts and working in cramped quarters will be delighted to know relief is on the way. Construction has begun on a new, larger workshop, with the transition expected to occur in Summer 2020.
New Facility Details
The facility will be located at 4825 E Meyer Industrial Drive, on the southern edge of Columbia just off Highway 63. At 12,500 square feet, the building will be significantly larger than the existing workshop, with improved loading docks, larger assembly areas, and a greatly increased capacity for storage. The site also allows for future expansion. (Pictured: Black banded, boxed carts are stacked high in the back on industrial shelving.)
A Fitting Tribute
Even before construction, the new facility was named the “Mel and Barbara West Cart Center.” Longtime board member Jim Wall remarked that this designation was well-deserved.
The Need for Mobility
“Estimates indicate as many as 70 million people around the world have lost the use of their legs due to landmine injury, polio, or other illnesses,” Wall explained.
A Legacy of Service
“The Wests started Mobility Worldwide 30 years ago, committed to providing mobility to the leg-disabled. Now there are 19 workshops around the country and four in Africa, and volunteers have built and shipped over 100,000 carts to 106 countries. Naming this new building for Mel and Barbara is a way to honor their vision while reminding us all to commit ourselves, as they did, to serving those in need around the world.”
Looking Forward
“We’re excited to see the new facility become a reality,” Executive Director Gary Moreau exclaimed. “We have made the best of our tight spaces for years, but now we will have room to grow and increase our production. Many of our volunteers provided input on what they would like to see incorporated in the plans, and I believe they will be pleased with the results.”
Those plans add a new feature: a welding workshop. To date, all welding has been done off site. The new building will include the space and ventilation to allow much of this work to be done in-house, reducing the need to transport metal to and from private facilities.
The Container Project and The Sewing Project will also move to the new building, continuing the close working relationships of all three humanitarian teams. (Pictured warehouse: front row contains boxes of clothes, vitamins, and more waiting for Nicaragua.) The new workshop will also include improved office spaces and a conference room, along with a paved parking area.
Generous Support for Expansion
Perhaps best of all, funding for purchase of the land and construction of the building was provided by very generous benefactors.
“A gift was bequeathed in Herbert Sauer’s will several years ago, which provided the seed money,” Mobility Worldwide MO – Columbia Board President Danielle Harrison said. “The balance was provided by Judy and Jim Wall, who saw a need and wished to support Mobility’s efforts to expand and provide even more carts every year. As a result of these generous gifts, we will no longer have to pay rent, which means that monthly expense can now be reallocated to building more carts.”
Project Updates and Community Engagement
Coil Construction is the prime contractor for the project. Volunteers and interested parties are encouraged to view the plans at the current workshop and to drive by the new location to watch the progress. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and move-in date will be announced in the spring.
By Dell Epperson, Board Trustee & member of Building Committee November 2019
Celebrating 25 Years of Service
25 Years ago Mel West founded Mobility Worldwide to help provide mobility to those unable to walk throughout the world. He enlisted many others over the years to help develop and fulfill his vision. In the early years his neighbors often heard him late at night building Mobility Carts in his garage. Today, Mel Inspired us with his wisdom and commitment to help others at the groundbreaking for the Mel and Barbara West Cart Center—the new headquarters for Mobility Worldwide MO – Columbia which has now grown to over 24 locations in the USA and throughout the world.
It was a great day with 69 in attendance: Mobility Worldwide MO – Columbia volunteers, Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, and other supporters present to help continue the mission of Mobility Worldwide MO – Columbia to serve and help others. Thank you Mel and Barbara West for the example of Service Above Self you provide to all of us!! – Glen Ehrhardt, Board Trustee
Enhancements to the New Workshop
Grants have been received for items beyond the construction budget, and we are grateful to the following organizations for helping make our new shop even better.
The Stafford Family Charitable Trust
A generous gift of over $26,000 from The Stafford Family Charitable Trust will establish a welding shop in the new workshop. Until now, all welding of the frames and metal components of the Mobility Cart has been done offsite, often in the garages and barns of dedicated volunteers we call “parts makers.”
Boone Electric Community Trust
A generous grant of $4,000 from Boone Electric Community Trust will assist with the installation of a fire, smoke, and security system in the new facility. As longtime supporters of Mobility, this gift will help protect our volunteers and ensure a safe and secure working environment.
PET Mobility Project Foundation
Thanks to a grant of nearly $14,000 from the PET Mobility Project Foundation, pallet storage racks will be installed to significantly increase storage capacity. This enhancement aims to boost production while allowing for the distribution of donated parts to other shops and consolidating carts for more frequent shipments.
Moving In and Production Updates
Moving began in July 2020 after obtaining a temporary occupancy permit. After many truckloads and hot hours of labor, we have successfully relocated the Mobility Cart shop, warehouse, and other operations. The office area is now completed, and we are in the process of moving all files, office supplies, and equipment.
Cart production and shipping commenced in August 2020. We are now fully operational, making adjustments as needed. Supplies are arriving, and Mobility Carts are being shipped out regularly.