The “Miracle on the Hudson” has touched Americans far beyond the river, so much so that it even prompted a San Francisco philanthropist to donate 110 free wheelchairs to The Wheelchair Foundation (TWF) and Goodwill’s headquarters in Astoria.
Thanks to Scharleen Colant, 89, Goodwill received the wheelchairs for low-income New Yorkers, and they were given away at a ceremony on Tuesday, November 10.
“Ms. Colant is making this gift possible to honor the extraordinary heroism shown by Captain Sullenberger and his crew, who delivered all their passengers safely after their plane lost power and had to ditch in the Hudson River,” said Mauricio Hernandez, Goodwill’s senior vice president of operations. “She was deeply touched by their heroism and competence.”
“Each person that received a wheelchair sat down with her individually to thank her,” said Jose Medellin, director of communications of Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, Inc. “There were so many people here, it was very touching.”
According to Hernandez, Colant, a philanthropist from the Bay Area, started donating wheelchairs several years ago with her late husband Ernest. Both were actively involved in working with organ donation events, education and awareness, and they were also long-time Rotary Club members.
The couple sailed together around the world donating free wheelchairs to those in need until Ernest’s death in 2004. From that point, Colant cruised solo, still aspiring to give the gift of mobility, hope and independence.
“She goes on these cruises and makes arrangements with TWF to have these wheelchair distribution events at the ports where the cruises take her,” Hernandez said.
He added, “It was a fantastic gesture on the part of Ms. Colant to honor Captain Sullenberger and his crew in such a unique way, so we were thrilled to be a part of it.”
Over the past eight years, Goodwill has distributed more than 700 wheelchairs to those in need, making this the third wheelchair distribution event in collaboration with TWF. Hernandez said it was “a great opportunity to work with them [TWF]” and that providing the gift of mobility to those in need only further supports their mission.
Hernandez described the distribution as a “simple process.” He said that fliers were posted in their retail stores asking if anyone needed a free wheelchair. Past agencies that Goodwill has worked with were also contacted in hopes of finding recipients.
“We have a few left, so the whole process is ongoing,” Hernandez said. “It’s a little difficult to distribute all 110 wheelchairs in one day, but in due time they’ll be gone.”
