Aileen and Phil – Wheelchair CollectionVolunteers

By Joni Eareckson Tada|Published On: August 24, 2018|Categories: 4-Minute Radio Program|

Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a story that will surprise you.

Okay, so let’s say you are in your late 80’s, it’s not hard to picture what you might be doing. You could be playing Bridge at a senior center. Or you might choose a quieter lifestyle; you could be part of a group that makes quilts. Or maybe you hope you’ll still be gardening or tinkering with tools when you are 87 or 88 years old; something simple, not strenuous, a little relaxing.

Well, if you are Aileen and Phil Velthuis, you’d say “Wrong.” Now Aileen is 88 years old and Phil is about the same age, and these two have faithfully collected wheelchairs for our Wheels for the World outreach since 2007. You see, we have about 350 wheelchair collection volunteers spread across the US. People volunteering to locate used but serviceable wheelchairs which are then restored by inmates in any one of the 16 prisons across America. It’s all to support our Wheels for the World outreach. And Aileen and Phil? Well, they may be our oldest couple volunteering. In their 11 years of service, they have built up quite a system. Through phone calls and visits to various vendors, they have established relationships with nursing homes, hospitals, and medical equipment companies.

It’s not easy work for someone in their late 80’s, but Aileen makes the calls and keeps track of everything in a big notebook. Phil then drives their truck, sometimes 40 or 50 miles away, to pick up wheelchairs. Then he drives them to their storage trailer and unloads all his cargo. Now remember, these two are in their late 80’s. But Aileen and Phil have done it without complaint, and with great joy! They say it’s an honor to serve the Lord in this way. In fact, Aileen wrote me and said, “Joni, giving hundreds of people wheelchairs and the gospel every year, what else could Phil and I be doing that would make such an impact for the kingdom of God?”

Wow! Four thousand wheelchairs they’ve collected, and despite their age, Aileen and Phil have loved doing it.

And Galatians 6:9 describes them to a “T” where it says: “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if [I love that] if we don’t give up.”

And speaking of giving up, they weren’t real excited about having to step down and giving their ministry to someone younger and stronger. But they knew they would have to find people to replace them.

Well last year, they did what they could to recruit new volunteers, handing out flyers, and speaking at local churches about Wheels for the World. After several months of trying, they were at a dead end. But then, Phil and Aileen were invited to speak at a Baptist church about local service opportunities. Little did they know this particular church was looking for a new and creative way to connect with their community. After Phil and Aileen cast the vision, immediately church members called to begin collecting wheelchairs, and then, the whole church embraced it. God provided abundantly and just in the nick of time!