Phoenix Rotary 100 has been participating in the funding and distribution of food and other needs to elders on the Navajo Reservation, working with the prime sponsor of this full time work, the Salt Lake City based Adopt-a-Native-Elder Program (www.anelder.org/). During one of last year’s food runs, members PDG Craig Wilson and Steve Goldston saw a need to replace many of the elders’ old and worn out wheelchairs. Through discussion with club member Bob Withers, Bob took the lead in the task of fund raising and providing wheelchairs. 
Funding was provided by not only Phoenix Rotary Charities, but also the Arizona Community Foundation and other entities.
The chairs come from the Wheelchair Foundation (https://www.wheelchairfoundation.org/), which purchases wheelchairs from several manufacturers in China that build a quality product designed to be easily maintainable in developing countries. The wheelchairs are specifically designed for rough conditions. Extra heavy wheels, tires and front casters, sealed bearings and nylon seating make these wheelchairs the best possible solution for most conditions.
 
Working with the Phoenix Rotary 100 committee, ANE identified elders on the Reservation who were in need, their wheel chair size and location. In August, club member and ANE board member Bryan McCay took delivery of over 100 boxed wheelchairs, shipped in a container from China to Winslow. The wheelchairs were sorted by location and included in the 15 separate food run distributions during October.
 
Phoenix Rotary 100 Rotarians joined the distribution on the Navajo Reservation at the Big Mountain location on October 11, 2017. The chairs were unpacked, assembled and presented with a joyous reception by the elders. This project is a prime example of the power of individual Rotarians; to perceive a need and utilize our Rotary organization to help to provide a solution.