Friday, June 27, 2014

Largest Shipment of PET Carts Sent to India - June 2014


In late 2012 a resident of Ypsilanti, MI, became aware of P.E.T. carts after watching a CBS news report on the PET IA-Leighten facility.  He was planning a visit to his parents in Gujarat, India, and was reminded of two children in the surrounding area that were leg-challenged and could really benefit from the gift of a PET cart. After much communication, a volunteer at PET West Michigan delivered a PET cart to him in Ypsilanti in January of 2013, and he in turn, hand delivered it to a nine-year-old girl living in India. This led to him becoming aware of the hundreds of children in the surrounding areas that could experience a life change with the gift of a PET. He began a monumental fund-raising campaign to raise funds to cover the shipping costs to provide 300 child-sized PETS to the area. In October of 2013, he visited the PET West Michigan facility, and we soon began building the 156 units that were shipped to PET Columbia-MO in May, 2014. Combined with 150 of Columbia’s units, a container of some 300 PETs are on their way to India!  This shipment marks the largest of its kind for PET West Michigan and we couldn’t be more excited with how the events have unfolded and the children that are being helped.  If you want to find out how you too can get involved, make sure to visit our website and donate a PET cart today!

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Open House Winners Announced!

We kicked off the long awaited summer by opening the doors of the PET plant and invited local friends and business owners to come see what we are all about. We were so blessed that hundreds of people chose to spend time with us and learn about the children across the world we are working hard to help. One of our favorite parts of the evening, was our prize giveaway. Attendees were given the chance to enter their name in a drawing to have a PET cart sent to a waiting child in their name!

The winners were Sally Pollock and Jack Verbeek.  Sally had her PET cart sent in honor of Bob Krueger, and Jack had his sent in honor of Lenard Vogelzang - an Army & Air Force vet, and former Sherriff of Allegan County who died of cancer in the late 90's.

Thank you to everyone who attended our open house - we look forward to seeing you and your friends again next year! If you'd like to learn more about PET West Michigan, make sure to check out our website: www.petwestmichigan.org