WFLA came out to our workshop this past Spring and produced a great story on our ministry.
Franklin Templeton Team Building In Tampa
Sunday, 24 July 2011 18:03
On June 15 and 16, PET Tampa welcomed two volunteer teams from Franklin Templeton Investments based in St. Petersburg. This was structured as a team building exercise where PET Tampa is utilized as a partner to provide a structured activity that brings team members together outside of the work environment. Here's a look into this experience in their own words:
Thank you for giving us an opportunity to join the PET team. We all enjoyed our experience with the team building workshop.
Here are the group photos from our PET team building in June.
Group 1 - 06/15/11 - (from left to right) - Jonathan Sanowar, Chris Eccles, Liliam Jefts, Jodi Hoyt, Sara Nicholson, Melissa Floyd, Tatiana Caterson.
Group 2 - 06/16/11 - (from left to right) - Sara Nicholson, Jodi Hoyt, Mike Kerutis, Wayne Patrick, (in back) Chris Solly, Kyle Tucker.
Here is what a few of the volunteers from our group had to say:
As Americans, most of us enjoy a very good life. We have the opportunity to travel when and where we like and even enjoying a modest life style, we are still the envy of most of the people of the world. Volunteering at PET brings you down to earth and makes you realize how much better we have it than people in other countries. By building a PET you are not saving the world, but on a very person level you are making the life of one person so much better. It is a very worthwhile experience. - Wayne Patrick
PET is a wonderful example of how we can participate in giving back after we have received so much. It was a great pleasure to work with people who shared their time, resources and skills so generously. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be apart of it. - Tatiana Caterson
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank each individual volunteer, and the Franklin Templeton Investments organization for their dedication and commitment to the PET Project, and the PET Tampa ministry.
PETs to Ecuador
Tuesday, 29 March 2011 20:13
Von Driggs, Director of Operations for PET International, came to us on February 7 asking if we could help with filling a container to go to Ecuador. When asked how many PETs would fit in a container, Von replied “oh, a hundred and eighty or so. Maybe two hundred.” We didn’t have near that quantity in our inventory, but Von knew that other workshops might be interested in helping out. Another kink was that the partner, Medshare, was also asking for Pull PETs, which we do not build in our shop. As Von began working out the distribution details with Medshare to make sure the distributing organization in Ecuador was qualified, we began coordinating with two workshops who had expressed a willingness to help out, PET Bryan (TX) and PET MI (East). PET Bryan quickly put together a shipment of 70 Adult PETs, and PET MI worked diligently to raise funds to ship 25 Pull PETs from their shop. We received both shipments at our shop, unloaded them and put them into our warehouse.
Logistics were provided by Medshare, who took care of arrangements to get the container to Ecuador and coordinating with PET International to establish a distribution partnership with an organization there. Von worked closely with Medshare to teach the Patronato Provincial how to identify and qualify potential recipients. As a result of this, there were over 200 applications approved for people needing PETs, so every PET vehicle already has an owner assigned to it!! This is the second container with PETs sent to Ecuador by Medshare. It is the first shipment that involved coordination between three PET workshops, PET International, and two sister partnerships. We do not need to forget the anonymous donor who provided the funding to pay for the container and its transportation to Ecuador. And, of course, all the faithful PET volunteers along the way.
On Thursday, March 24 the container showed up first thing in the morning, as Dave Halterman, our workshop coordinator, and we waited hopefully for the volunteers we had so vigorously called for. Initially the turnout was small, but then people started arriving, and it turned out that we had the perfect number of people for our container load. With all the people that showed up, we were able to load the container in less than three hours.
We were all curious as to where the PETs were headed, so we asked Amanda Paniagua, Medshare Shipments Manager, for some details. She explained, “The container is going to the Patronato Provincial de Esmeraldas. The Patronato Provincial is a social charity foundation run by the brother of the Prefect of Esmeraldas province. The mission is to serve the poor and needy people of Esmeraldas. The Patronato operates a medical center that serves the poor, among other social service operations. Some of the medical services include: physical therapy, primary care, family planning, general medicine, pediatric check-ups, OB/Gyn care, nutritional counseling, laboratory services, and endoscopies. About 6,000 patients are seen each year, mostly for outpatient services.”
“Esmeraldas is one of the poorest of Ecuador’s provinces. It is unique in that there is a large population of blacks there, who are often neglected and marginalized by the central federal government. In February 2010 MedShare staff was able to visit Esmeraldas and tour the main Patronato health care center building. The level of poverty was quite striking. Hundreds of patients were lined up outside and inside the halls waiting for medical care including the elderly, mothers with babies, and people from all walks of life. The facility was over-crowded, under-equipped, dirty, and bare. There is a desperate need for more aid to this facility. “
On behalf of PET Tampa, PET International, PET Bryan, and PET Michigan East, PET Tampa like to thank all our volunteers for your assistance in giving the gift of mobility to 174 people of the Esmeraldas Province in Ecuador. This was truly a unique distribution in that it involved so many different groups and organizations working together to change the lives of people we do not know and who live in poverty and despair thousands of miles from our cozy homes.
2010 Director's Report
Sunday, 09 January 2011 22:31
PET Tampa
Director’s Report 2010
Year In Review
2010 started out with our workshop stripped to the bare walls. We were following through on a decision made in late 2009 to redesign the workshop for better efficiency and less congestion. We were fortunate to have Al Kendig, from the Holland Michigan PET workshop, assist us with the redesign and layout of the shop’s workflow. After seeing our operation and taking a careful look at the workshop interior, we all agreed on his recommendation to open up the space as much as possible and basically start from scratch.
Walls were removed and painted, rooms rearranged, the sawdust collection system was improved, but the major improvement was the layout. Movement of parts and assemblies through the shop was clumsy and the space was not being fully utilized. So now with a design that looked good, and that had consensus among the board of directors and key workshop volunteers, renovation and construction work began in January.
At the same time, we were saying goodbye to our PET Tampa Workshop founders, Jeff and April Sukup and transitioning to a new management team. As we began to examine Jeff’s duties, it became quickly apparent that this was simply too much for a part time volunteer! So, Jeff’s responsibilities were divided between our new Workshop Coordinator, Dave Halterman, and Workshop Administrator, Tom Behrens.
In April, the shop was ready and we began again producing PET carts. With some shifting of organizational elements, we were quickly back on pace at roughly the same production numbers as the year before. Our expectation was that perhaps production would improve, but now we see that the most notable improvement is the experience that our volunteers have when coming to work in our shop. There has also been more attention paid to the quality of the vehicles being built, as we work to comply with PET International construction standards.
In September, we attended the PET International Annual Workshop for all PET Project Affiliates. We expressed our concern that our warehouse would soon be full and we soon would have to consider scaling back on production quantities. There was talk of a new PET International Partner in Haiti, so we anxiously awaited the formalization of that partnership.
In early October, we were informed of a partnership that had been forged between PET International and the Albert Schweitzer Hospital (HAS) in Haiti (www.hashaiti.org). We waited with excited anticipation to send PET carts from our inventory to help the most needy pick themselves up off the ground for a new experience in mobility. News came in late October that a container was waiting in Miami for twenty or so PET carts.
While we made arrangements for that delivery, yet another introduction was made to a local ministry that we never knew was right in our back yard. PET International stepped in and helped us forge a new partnership with Love A Child (LAC) Ministries (www.loveachild.com) in Riverview, Florida. LAC operates an orphanage, physical rehab clinics, as well as many health clinics. They are also providing temporary and permanent housing to earthquake victims. The folks at LAC wanted some PETs right away to go into a container they were packing in November.
So, as LAC is sending teams to our workshop loading up PETs, Don Hitchcock and Tom Behrens drove to Miami with a load of PETs for HAS. We received word just after the new year that two of our PET vehicles had been distributed by LAC to needy individuals.
All in all this year, we logged 2,196 volunteer hours with 549 total volunteer registration signups. We produced a total of 127 adult and 12 child vehicles, and shipped 74 adult and eight child vehicles. We continue to be blessed with volunteers and donations, and it truly is by the grace of God that our ministry continues to thrive. We thank all of our volunteers, contributors, and stakeholders for their continued support of our ministry.
Docelius Prophete Receives a PET
Friday, 07 January 2011 13:35
Volunteers:
Did you pack PET cart serial number 866 on November 6, 2010?
This story comes directly from one of our Haitian partners delivering Haiti Disaster Relief, the Love A Child ministry (www.loveachild.com). The PET carts they picked up from us last November (see story and video below) are finally being received by the most needy, and now most appreciative, people in Haiti.
"The man above is Doceluis Prophete and he is 32 years old. He was raised in a family that farmed for a living, and when not in school, he spent most of his time in the garden. Over the past four years, he has lost the use of his legs. Since he was unable to walk, he stopped going to the garden and became house bound. He has not been able to get around for a very long time.
Now, because of a blessing from P.E.T. - Personal Energy Transportation, he received a very nice cart that allows him a little bit of independence. He is a large man so the chair had to be revamped, but he is thrilled to be out and about again. He doesn't want to get off the scooter, he is on it from morning until the sun goes down. We are thankful that this little scooter can give this man a little hope."
Thanks, Love A Child for all you do!
Love A Child Partnership
Thursday, 28 October 2010 14:13
Since we ramped our production back up after construction finished in April, our warehouse has been slowly but steadily filling up. Our concern grew as we saw no opportunities for distributions in the near future. But production continued with the faith that God will provide.
And provide He did! Through an innocent request of a friend of the PET Tampa Director, Tom Behrens, an introduction was made to Rad Hazelip with the Love A Child ministry on Monday, January 25, 2010. Just four short days later, LAC's van pulls up to our warehouse to load up the first of what will be many more loads of PET vehicles bound for Haiti. They had expressed interest in child PETs, but the three that we showed in our inventory had already been spoken for. Just like the fish and loaves, when we took a second look in our warehouse, lo and behold, there were four more child PETs that seemed to appear from nowhere. Yes, God DOES provide - beyond our expectations when prayer is involved.
Watch the video send off via the link above, and watch for more photos as the PETs are received in Haiti next month.
Full Circle for Elizabeth
In September, we scrambled to get six PET vehicles up to South Carolina so that they could be loaded on the back end of a container going to Botswana. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers, Susan and Ken Meyer, who drove them up on very short notice. Here is Jeff’s story about one of the PET vehicles that was given to a young girl this September who actually visited our workshop last year:
Well, we gave away the first adult PET wheel chair that came on the container that Scott & Tonya Shipes shipped over. It went to Elizabeth Dax, Nan Parker’s adopted Namibian daughter who is 12. She has had spinal bifida since birth.
I first met her in 2006 at an orphanage south of Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. She used a beaten up old child’s wheel chair in the orphanage but couldn’t go to school with the other kids or play in the dirt playground with them and had to be carried wherever else the rest of the children would go outside of the orphanage. So we gave her a junior PET at that time and she was excited. She out grew the child’s chair and it also fell into a state of disrepair at the orphanage.
She is now living with Nan in Arandis and having “Uncle” Mike around to make any needed repairs we feel assured this PET will last her for years to come. She was overjoyed to receive it. She couldn’t stop talking about what a difference it would make in her life. She would be able to go to school, the playground or market on her own. She even named it “Petunia PET” I think the lavender color helped her make the decision.
I told her not only was it a gift from Jesus but that you guys and all the volunteers at the Tampa workshop had worked to make this possible.
Thank you for all you do in serving the least of those worldwide!
KForce Shows Up in Force
Wednesday, 05 May 2010 14:00
The marketing department from KForce helped us debut our new corporate team building program on Friday, April 30. Eleven members of the marketing team showed up after lunch time to volunteer in our shop. Their leader, Valerie Frank, was even in an ankle cast! After a quick orientation, they all went to work and quickly adapted to our workshop flow.
They were able to experience most all of the assembly phases in building a PET vehicle, including body assembly, painting, and packing a PET for shipment.
Thanks to a great group of volunteers with a terrific attitude and uplifting spirit! We hope they will be an inspiration to other organizations in the Tampa area to promote volunteerism as a way to effect long term social change in our society.
Some comments from KForce Volunteers:
“I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to help support such a great cause and organization. Helping to build a PET for a person in need has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It’s amazing to think how contributing a little of my own time will change someone’s life forever. The entire experience really hit home and reminded me of just how much we take for granted.” – Michael Dixon
“Creating a PET from start to finish was a great hands-on team building experience. I also loved all of the news articles posted throughout the building, it really made you see that what you were building is truly going to make a difference in someone’s life.” – Cara Barone
“This was a great experience! Team building is more meaningful when doing something constructive and positive for others. It is also rewarding to see a PET go from a pile of materials to a finished product and know that you had a hand in building something that will be of great benefit to someone in need.” – Greg Millman
Von Driggs, Director of Operations for PET International, came to us on February 7 asking if we could help with filling a container to go to Ecuador. When asked how many PETs would fit in a container, Von replied “oh, a hundred and eighty or so. Maybe two hundred.” We didn’t have near that quantity in our inventory, but Von knew that other workshops might be interested in helping out. Another kink was that the partner, Medshare, was also asking for Pull PETs, which we do not build in our shop. As Von began working out the distribution details with Medshare to make sure the distributing organization in Ecuador was qualified, we began coordinating with two workshops who had expressed a willingness to help out, PET Bryan (TX) and PET MI (East). PET Bryan quickly put together a shipment of 70 Adult PETs, and PET MI worked diligently to raise funds to ship 25 Pull PETs from their shop. We received both shipments at our shop, unloaded them and put them into our warehouse.
On Thursday, March 24 the container showed up first thing in the morning, as Dave Halterman, our workshop coordinator, and we waited hopefully for the volunteers we had so vigorously called for. Initially the turnout was small, but then people started arriving, and it turned out that we had the perfect number of people for our container load. With all the people that showed up, we were able to load the container in less than three hours.
We were all curious as to where the PETs were headed, so we asked Amanda Paniagua, Medshare Shipments Manager, for some details. She explained, “The container is going to the Patronato Provincial de Esmeraldas. The Patronato Provincial is a social charity foundation run by the brother of the Prefect of Esmeraldas province. The mission is to serve the poor and needy people of Esmeraldas. The Patronato operates a medical center that serves the poor, among other social service operations. Some of the medical services include: physical therapy, primary care, family planning, general medicine, pediatric check-ups, OB/Gyn care, nutritional counseling, laboratory services, and endoscopies. About 6,000 patients are seen each year, mostly for outpatient services.” 
On behalf of PET Tampa, PET International, PET Bryan, and PET Michigan East, PET Tampa like to thank all our volunteers for your assistance in giving the gift of mobility to 174 people of the Esmeraldas Province in Ecuador. This was truly a unique distribution in that it involved so many different groups and organizations working together to change the lives of people we do not know and who live in poverty and despair thousands of miles from our cozy homes.
Volunteers:
Well, we gave away the first adult PET wheel chair that came on the container that Scott & Tonya Shipes shipped over. It went to Elizabeth Dax, Nan Parker’s adopted Namibian daughter who is 12. She has had spinal bifida since birth.
The marketing department from KForce helped us debut our new corporate team building program on Friday, April 30. Eleven members of the marketing team showed up after lunch time to volunteer in our shop. Their leader, Valerie Frank, was even in an ankle cast! After a quick orientation, they all went to work and quickly adapted to our workshop flow.