Combined efforts between the Riobamba Diocese, la Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil and the Jesus Christ Church of Latter Day Saints allowed a total of 73 disabled persons, among them children, adults and elderly persons, living in the Alausí Canton of the Chimborazo Province, to receive an equal number of mobility implements.
One of the beneficiaries was Elisa Castillo who arrived from the northern part of the Canton with an improvised wooden cane. The eighty year-old received an aluminum walking cane and showed herself grateful for it was the first time she received help for greater autonomy and safety from an implement according to her needs.
On the other hand, Jose Chaguay received a wheelchair. A traffic accident 9 years ago caused a loss of mobility in his legs. “Long ago la Junta gave me a wheelchair and now I´ve come to renovate it”, he expressed excitedly.
Monsignor Julio Parrilla, Bishop of Riobamba explained that this is not the first time that disabled people in this part of the country receive help from la Junta de Beneficencia. “This Guayaquil Institution has collaborated with our parochial and Diocese charities, on other occasions. It is a marvelous collaboration to reach far away, needy places”, he pointed out.
The donation consisted of 31 chairs, six walkers, 33 canes, and three pair of crutches, all at the San Pedro de Alausí Matrix Church.
In 2008 the aid program of la Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil continued to improve the quality of life of 1526 persons by delivering mobility implements. This work is done in coordination with international organizations such as free wheelchair Mission and the Jesus Christ Church of Latter Day Saints which benefits handicapped people everywhere in the country.
