Agency - ROC Wheels Inc.

To provide mobility products for people with disabilities in developing countries and to foster partnerships through ministry, youth empowerment, wheelchair distributions, manufacturing opportunities, and educational development.

Description:
During the summer of 2003 ROC Wheels developed a YEWTHS ROC Program (Youth Empowered With The Helper Spirit), with the goals of educating, inspiring, and strengthening the self-esteem of local youth. The action plan was to locally manufacture 60 ROC Chairs for children in Jamaica. The local manufacturing varied in ages from 8 to 80 years old and accounted for over 2,000 volunteer hours. The leadership development for the youth strengthened their self-esteem working collaboratively with adults and other youth groups in the community. The operation inspired the youths’ faith and world view by teaching that they can reach out and care for those in need. Once the 60 ROC Chairs were completed they were shipped to Jamaica. The youth that manufactured the 60 ROC Chairs traveled to Jamaica to help custom fit them to developmentally disabled children.
Following the completion of the 60 ROC Chairs the YEWTH manufacturing program proved to be a successful way to empower youth, build self-esteem, teach science and technology applications, develop a stronger faith, and plant a world view to reach out and care for others in need. ROC’s Board of Directors decided that the local manufacturing operation should be reinstated in the future according to demand and sufficient funding.
ROC Wheels has received numerous requests from the local community to involve youth in our organization. In 2008 a local foundation awarded ROC Wheels a grant to rekindle the YEWTH Program focused on inspiring three Emily Dickinson Elementary School 5th grade classes to learn about disabilities and connect with children in Kenya that received wheelchairs. The YEWTH Program has gained interest from schools around the nation.
The demand for ROC Wheel’s programs and services expanded greatly in 2008/09 throughout Gallatin Valley. The YEWTHS ROC Program expanded from Monforton and Pass Creek schools to Belgrade Middle and High Schools, Chief Joseph Middle School (CJMS), Million Ways Club (after school program at CJMS) and church youth groups from University Parish, Manhattan Christian, and Peace Lutheran. The curriculum now includes disability awareness, diverse cultural education, marketing and finance, art programs, and ROC Chair assembly / design and manufacturing education. This program is a multi faceted diamond for everyone involved of all ages. The participants learn acceptance, gain self-worth, make personal selfless sacrifice, and cultural sensitivity, while realizing that their talents combined with good education provides the foundation to a life-long pursuit of helping others in need. Two capacity building grants enabled the YEWTHS ROC Program to be mobilized thanks to the purchase of a trailer that has been retrofitted to allow the ROC Chair assembly operation to be transported to partnering schools, churches, and service groups both near and far.
Belgrade Middle School incorporated the Youth Assembly Program into their curriculum for up to 250 students for the 2009/2010 school year and assembled 40 ROC Chairs. ROC has received interest from as far as Florida to integrate YEWTHS ROC Programs into their communities. In order to meet this demand extensive media development of videos and adaptive curriculum capable of delivering the YEWTHS ROC Program in a package that will allow for easier introduction to classes throughout the country- without significantly increasing ROC’s budget for staff wages and travel.

History:
ROC Wheels, Inc., (Reach Out & Care) is a 501(c)(3), faith-based, non-profit organization founded and based in Bozeman, Montana. ROC Wheels (hereby ROC) was organized to facilitate the supply of wheelchairs and other mobility devices to disabled individuals within developing countries and to further programs and education that will help reduce barriers to, and enhance mobility for these individuals. ROC Wheels specializes in manufacturing innovative, lightweight, durable, functional and aesthetically pleasing pediatric positioning and mobility systems designed to empower the individual and allow the greatest opportunity for optimal mental and physical development. The ROC Chair is the first solution to come along that not only properly meets the needs of a very broad range of disabilities, but can also be produced in large quantities at a low cost. ROC Wheels performs all these operations without regard to political affiliation, religious beliefs or ethnic identity.

Contact people:

Andrew Babcock, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Holly Floyd, Assistant Director, (phone), (email) LeeAnn Hanson, Program Director, (phone), (email)

Address:

301 Gallatin Park Drive Bozeman, MT 59715 (See a map)

Directions:

Between Rouse and 7th Ave on Griffen travel north on Manley and make a left on Gallatin Valley Drive. ROC Wheels is located on the corner of Manley and Gallatin Valley Drive.