Area nonprofit holds drive

On His Path, a Wayland nonprofit organization, is partnering with Bethel Ministries International of Chimaltenango, Guatemala, to conduct an ongoing medical equipment collection drive.

Bethel Ministries, a nonprofit operated by Americans Chris and Donna Mooney, focuses on providing aid to widows, orphans and the disabled in Guatemala, where 80 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty.

An area wheelchair drive is to aid in Bethel?s wheelchair ministry.

Bethel has provided more than 1,300 wheelchairs annually to people in need for several years. Each chair gives the recipient, as well as the family, a new life of mobility.

Equipment will be collected locally, then loaded on a container and shipped to Guatemala.

Once in Guatemala, the chairs will be refurbished by the technicians in Bethel Ministries workshop, many of whom are themselves confined to wheelchairs.

The drive is specifically looking to collect wheelchairs of any shape, size or condition.

Walkers, crutches, canes, immobilizers, slings or any other donation also will be accepted.

Bethel Ministries also provides clothing and shoes to needy Guatemalans. Black shoes are especially helpful, as children are not allowed to attend school without them. Donations of clothing and shoes also would be appreciated.

Call Rick Fulton at 319-461-6260 or Brittany Davidson 319-256-5656 to donate. Pickup can be arranged.

For more information, visit www.onhispath.com and/or www.bethelministriesinternational.com.