With push from Eastern Idaho, wheelchair project for veterans embraced around U.S.
By KAREN SARITA INGRAM
February 8, 2015 

When Frank Smith decided to help out a friend and fellow veteran who needed a wheelchair, he never imagined his act of kindness would explode into a project that has gained nationwide attention.

"It's a very worthy cause, but I'm still surprised at the attention it's getting," Smith said.

A local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America and several small Idaho businesses have joined forces to provide electric-powered wheelchairs to disabled veterans and their families.

It all started after the death of Smith's friend, who asked that his powered wheelchair be donated to a fellow veteran. Smith knew a veteran in an assisted living facility in Pocatello who could use it, but the chair needed some work.

The Idaho Falls man called on his friend, Brett Waters, owner of DeeRay's Auto Body in Shelley. When Waters heard the chair was being donated to a veteran, he offered to do the work for free. He enlisted the help of another friend, Randy Walker, of Walker's Upholstery in Basalt, and the refurbished chair was delivered.

But Smith saw a need for more wheelchairs among veterans.

"The body armor the Army developed is good at protecting the torso … but a lot of vets are returning with missing limbs. And older vets are getting older," he said.

Smith then discussed doing the same for other veterans in need with Bob Reinisch, president of Chapter 972 of the Vietnam Veterans of America. Reinisch and Waters agreed to continue the project. They have delivered three chairs to veterans in the past month.

Reinisch and Waters were featured in a TV news segment in January, which was shown on stations nationwide and published online. Reinisch and Waters started getting calls from all over the country - some who just wanted to say thanks, some who offered to donate wheelchairs.

Reinisch said the men have picked up powered wheelchairs and electric scooters from Rexburg, Caldwell and Boise, and are sending a truck to pick up 16 chairs in Wyoming this month.

"It absolutely blew up. I wasn't expecting that many," Waters said.

Barefoot Storage in Shelley donated a storage unit.

"We've gotten calls from Vermont, Oregon, North Dakota," Reinisch said. "So, we've got our hands full, but it's a blessing. We're not complaining."

Figuring out how to transport chairs to Idaho is something Reinisch said they're still trying to figure out.

Manpower also is a problem. Waters is happy to donate his time refurbishing chairs for veterans, but he still works full time repairing cars for a living and cannot afford to sacrifice his business.

Reinisch contacted Shelley High School to have students help Waters refurbish chairs for their senior project. Reinisch said he was speaking to other schools as well.

Vince Wray, an agricultural mechanics and science teacher at Shelley High School, said two students would help first, then possibly five or more later. "It's a great opportunity for these kids" to provide community service and learn job skills, Wray said.

Reinisch and Waters said their biggest needs are cash donations and batteries. No matter how good chairs are, they said, the batteries are always the first thing to go bad. Chapter 972 of the VVA is paying for new batteries, but that money may soon run out. To donate, contact Reinisch at 541-4809.

Though they have a lot of work ahead of them, Reinisch and Smith say the project will continue to grow.

"I'd like to see (this project) spread … at least across the country," Smith said. "It could help a lot of people, and a lot of these chairs end up in the garbage."