Knights of columbus donate wheelchairs to veterans | va houston health care | veterans affairs

Marine Corps Veteran Gabriel Gonzalez was one of a group of grateful Veterans who recently received the gift of freedom of movement thanks to a generous donation from the Galveston/Houston

Chapter of the Knights of Columbus. The Knights of Columbus donated 150 brand new wheelchairs to the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and Gonzalez was thrilled to get one for his

personal use. “I love bowling and this new wheelchair will get me there more often,” he said.   The Knights of Columbus partnered with Sugar Land St. Thomas Aquinas church to deliver the

wheelchairs for Houston VA Veterans.  Forty-three volunteers from 15 Knights of Columbus councils transported the massive boxes containing the wheelchairs.  The group received a special

escort from the Knights motorcycle group and the dedicated volunteers stuck around to unload the boxes, put together wheelchairs and met some of the Veterans. Air Force Veteran Albert Scott

was a grateful recipient of one of the wheelchairs.  “This wheelchair came at a perfect time since my knees are going bad, and I am not ready to have knee surgery,” Scott said.   “I so

appreciate this wheelchair…it’s really going to help me get around.” According to Shelita Magee, Chief of the Houston’s VA’s Center for Development and Civic Engagement, the VA is committed

to working with donors and volunteers who want to give back to America’s heroes.  “We are so grateful to have the generous support of community groups like the Knights of Columbus,” she

said.   “We can’t thank them enough for their support of our Veterans and our VA.” For more information on how to volunteer and/or donate to Veterans at the Houston VA, contact the Center

for Development & Civic Engagement at 713-794-7135 or [email protected].