×

Dunkirk man receives electric wheelchair

Finding H.O.P.E

OBSERVER Photos by Mary Heyl On Friday, Elvin Rivera received his new electric wheelchair at Dunkirk’s City Hall. Pictured along with Rivera (from left) are Mayor Willie Rosas, Elvin’s wife, Carmen; Hector Rosas, Dunkirk Festivals/Special Events coordinator and chair of Hispanics Organized for Progress and Education (HOPE); Elizabeth Booth, JCC North County Campus director; Roberto Rosas, vice president of H.O.P.E.; Chuck Cornell, SUNY Fredonia Technology Incubator director; Jose Pagan, LoGuidice Educational Center principal and H.O.P.E. member; and Edwin Ramos, city clerk and H.O.P.E. member.

2018 was not an easy year for Elvin Rivera of Dunkirk, who developed an infection in his toes in May. First, he lost his toes, then his ankle and his foot. In July, a final operation removed his right leg from the knee down. Rivera, a grape-picker at Arlou Farms in Silver Creek for 21 years, needed a way to get around; however, an electric wheelchair, which costs thousands of dollars, was out of the question, especially since he was not yet receiving social security or disability support.

In the meantime, Rivera had been using a manual wheelchair, which is difficult to use when Rivera needs to travel outdoors while his wife, Carmen, is working at Purina. The couple reached out to the community for support and were fortunate to find it in H.O.P.E.: Hispanics Organized for Progress and Education.

The newly revitalized organization is dedicated to providing services to English and non-English speaking Hispanics to improve their social, educational, cultural and economic status in the community. Hector Rosas, Dunkirk Festivals/Special Events coordinator, serves as chair of H.O.P.E. He, along with other community members including H.O.P.E. Vice President Roberto Rosas, Fredonia Technology Incubator and JCC North County Campus, worked hard to connect Elvin with an electric wheelchair.

Just before the holiday season, H.O.P.E. found a medical supply company that was willing to donate a new electric wheelchair to Rivera.

Valued at $5,500, the chair was an unexpected blessing; however, one obstacle remained: the $1,000 cost of shipping the chair from Utah to Dunkirk.

OBSERVER Photo by Mary Heyl Hector Rosas, Dunkirk Festivals/Special Events coordinator and chair of Hispanics Organized for Progress and Education (H.O.P.E.) showed Elvin Rivera how to use his new electric wheelchair in front of City Hall on Friday.

H.O.P.E., along with the Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY and an anonymous donor all contributed to the shipping cost to bring the chair to Rivera. The electric wheelchair came with two batteries, and was ready for Rivera when he and Carmen arrived at City Hall on Friday. “This is just wonderful,” Carmen said. “It is such a blessing. Now Elvin can get around while I am at work. We’re just very, very grateful.”

Rosas was honored to be a part of the effort to connect Rivera with this much-needed device. “It’s something we wanted to do in the spirit of giving, especially for the holidays,” he told the OBSERVER.

According to Rosas, H.O.P.E. will be providing two $500 scholarships or one $1,000 scholarship to a Dunkirk High School graduating senior this year. To learn more about H.O.P.E., a non-profit organization, follow HOPE – Hispanics Organized for Progress and Education on Facebook.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today