Photo courtesy of Delbert and Sandy Groves
Larry Hills, the volunteer Director of PET FL–Penney Farms had a vision: To provide a vehicle for mobility to serve God’s people who are the “least of these” whom Jesus loved so much.
He had four criteria for such a vehicle: It must be: STURDY – to last for many years; SIMPLE – to be easily maintain; LOW COST – so the donor dollar can serve as many persons as possible; and ECUMENICAL – so volunteers from all walks of life can work together to provide this GIFT OF LOVE and HOPE.
Our mission is three-fold:
(1) To provide a free “Gift of Mobility” through the production and distribution of PETs – an acronym taken from the complete name Personal Energy Transportation. The name is descriptive of the vehicle pictured here which uses the personal arm strength of a leg challenged person for transpiration. Recipients can transport themselves and a cargo across terrain where a standard wheelchair cannot go.
(2) To provide meaningful volunteer opportunities for retirees and other interested persons in the funding, manufacturing and distributing of PETs. Situated within the Penney Retirement Community, in northeast Florida, we provide a unique opportunity for retirees, students, and other surrounding community volunteers to demonstrate their compassion and love through the PET Project.
(3) To encourage, facilitate, and provide training for the establishment of new PET sites in the United States, and where possible in other countries, in order to increase the production and distribution of PETs.
The need for PETs: There are in excess of 20 million people in developing countries unable to walk. Ongoing loss of mobility through landmines, illness, birth defects, diseases, and accidents continually increases this number of people who have no mobility or limited mobility.
