BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Volunteers build carts to help people with disabilities

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

maylen

https://digital-stage.newsnationnow.com/

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118165728

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118184948

PENNEY FARMS, Fla. (NewsNation) — A group of Florida retirees are volunteering their time to give the gift of mobility to the world.

At Penney Retirement Community, volunteers spend hours a day cutting, sanding and building three-wheeled hand-powered carts known as personal energy transportation carts. So far, the volunteers have built 13,000 carts. The mobility carts have been delivered to 106 countries.

PETs were first produced in Missouri by Larry Hills, but when Hills moved to Florida in 2001, he started working on carts in Clay County. 

Sid Rooy, 95, has been a volunteer since the beginning. He says the support the three-wheeled vehicles give others is priceless.

“Now they can support themselves. They can start their own business, they can get married, they can have children, and they can support their families. It just gives a new lease on life,” he said on “Morning in America.”

He adds, “We come to retirement, but we don’t retire, we really just keep working. And I think the more we invest ourselves in the work that produces these and gives other people an opportunity for life, the stronger we feel, and more encouraged we are.”

“I never dreamt that I would live to 95. But every day is a gift the good Lord gives us and we use it invest it, and have a great time doing it,” Rooy said.

It costs roughly $350 for materials to build each PET cart and the organization is a nonprofit run by volunteers. To donate to the cause, click here.

American Hero

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Fair

la

54°F Fair Feels like 54°
Wind
3 mph NE
Humidity
70%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.
46°F A few passing clouds. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
2 mph NNE
Precip
2%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Gibbous