A Peruvian boy receives a donated wheelchair from Foundation Path of Hope. PHOTO COURTESY OF FOUNDATION PATH OF HOPE WEBSITE
News
Foundation hopes to provide more aid to Peruvians in need
July 20, 2022
A small Nebraska-based foundation is hoping to increase its impact on the lives of the poor and physically challenged in Peru.
Founded two years ago, Foundation Path of Hope wants to provide more wheelchairs, canes, walkers and other equipment to Peruvians in need, to help them gain more independence and be able to provide for themselves and their families.
The organization held a gathering July 12 at St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Omaha to help raise awareness and money.
Guests sampled Peruvian food and listened to the foundation founder and Peru native Rolando Luna, of St. Michael Parish in South Sioux City, as he explained his mission.
Rolando Luna explains the work of the nonprofit organization he founded, Foundation Path of Hope, at a July 12 gathering at St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Omaha. Founding partner Henry Witte, left, served as an interpreter. SUSAN SZALEWSKI/STAFF
The guests then watched a brief video before taking part in a Zoom video call to a workshop in Guatemala, where children were being equipped with wheelchairs and other devices.
Foundation Path of Hope is collaborating with the workshop to provide more supplies to the people of Peru, with plans to possibly open another workshop-clinic in that country.
Through the Zoom call, attendees at the Omaha event met 1-year-old Hector and his mother. Hector has cerebral palsy and was given a wheelchair with a seat that tilts to give him more comfort and that allows him to stretch and improve his health and functioning.
For many children, adjustments can be made to a basic wheelchair frame that can make it usable into adulthood, said Mark Richard, who runs the workshop. The chairs also can be specialized for different terrains and environments.
Anyone interested in helping Foundation Path of Hope can visit its website: https://foundationpathofhope.org/.
The foundation also was featured in a December Catholic Voice article: https://catholicvoiceomaha.com/foundation-provides-wheelchairs-other-aid-to-poor-and-disabled-in-peru/.