Woman receives new power wheelchair thanks to local nonprofit

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - An elderly Savannah woman says she is finally able to get around again after receiving a brand-new power wheelchair at no cost, thanks to a nonprofit based in Effingham County.

Diane Holmes depends on a power wheelchair for mobility and lives on a fixed income. For months, she says repeated breakdowns left her paying costly repair bills out of pocket and struggling to get help from her insurance company.

“And this time it was an electrical issue,” Holmes said. “It just kept beep, beep, beep, beep, beep — and it wouldn’t start.”

Holmes said each breakdown added to her frustration, especially after paying thousands of dollars toward the chair.

“When you’re paying an insurance company, you expect them to work for you, not the other way around,” she said.

In November, Holmes was forced to give back a chair she had just paid for after it broke down, leaving her without a working wheelchair for weeks.

After learning about her situation, James Shaw, founder of the Wish to Walk Foundation in Rincon, stepped in to help. Since 2007, the nonprofit has provided wheelchairs, walkers and other mobility equipment to people in need, relying solely on donations. The Wish to Walk Foundation has donated hundreds of mobility devices over the years.

“You can either get out and do something, or you can complain,” Shaw said. “I decided I wanted to do something.”

Shaw, who has cerebral palsy, said giving back is his mission. Last week, Shaw gifted her a brand-new motorized wheelchair, free of charge.

“A blessing,” Holmes said. “Lord have mercy, I thank you, because I never would have been able to afford a chair like this. It’s more than I asked.”

Now back on the move, Holmes says she is looking ahead —and calls Shaw her angel.

“Just because you’re in a wheelchair and may not be able to do everything doesn’t mean you can’t do something,” Shaw said. “You just have to get out there and find what you can do.”

Donations to the Wish to Walk Foundation can be made via Cash App at $wishtowalk or through PayPal under James Shaw.