Lowery approached me about six years ago asking if I would be interested in being a volunteer judge for the Ms. Wheelchair USA program, and I have returned every year since. Ms. Wheelchair USA is a program of The Dane Foundation and serves to meet their mission of promoting awareness, acceptance, and understanding. I have seen this program empower, encourage and promote ladies of all ages, giving them the confidence and courage to step on the stage and promote their ideas, passions and advocacy. Seeing past winners and contestants better themselves and their lives in big and small ways over these years is one of the many reasons I keep volunteering for the program.
I have been a part of this family for over a year now and that’s what it is, family. Their willingness to support disabled individuals and their families are a breath of fresh air. Project Elf is what happens around Christmas time where individuals can donate needed items that aren’t covered by State and Federal plans. As the current Ms. Wheelchair USA, I wish I would have found them earlier. We need more nonprofits like TDF.
I have been involved with The Dane Foundation for a long time. I can't explain what a wonderful organization it is. They are the most caring people to help in the community. I have had a disability all my life and have been volunteering in different organization and they truly stick with this one because they are very honest. They're very dedicated and work very hard and sometimes don't even have enough support or income, but they seem to make it. They also provide the Ms. Wheelchair USA pageant is for women from all different states compete for the title of Ms. Wheelchair USA it is a week event in Ohio. It gives the women an opportunity to show their accomplishments and their goals with living with a disability and also has the program project elf we're at Christmas time. We serve over 700 individuals with physical and developmental disability. We also service family as long as they have someone disabled except applications with their wish list then we ask people to be elf's and adopt someone or a family and try to get whatever is on their wish list. The two ladies Lowery locker and Patty Moser work so hard to make this happen they put in endless hours and not much sleep. They make sure everything is wrapped close with shopping they may have to do and everything is delivered there been so many thankful for receiving something. One year someone just wanted a pink sweater that's what she got this year. A guy had lost his wife and had kids it was so thankful for the help. The Dane Foundation help.out the community all year long. They always are providing things that people can't get on Medicare or Medicaid or food stamps and provide them with hygiene items toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, etc. if someone calls in and need something
We make sure we have it or we find it. A lot of them can't even afford an extra set of bed sheeting. I can't say enough about this organization. I have competed in the pageant, and I am now in an ambassador. I would love to see this organization to get recognized because it's ran by wonderful people that work around the clock to make sure that everything is provided for things needed in the community. And to make sure I miss Wheelchair USA pageant is a success so that women with disabilities can be recognized most of all the community is taking care of by this organization for people with physical and developmental disabilities.