When life has been good to you, do good for others, says Clifford Steele, a 93-year-old war veteran who is one of the busiest seniors in town and is looking to make himself even busier – with the public’s help.
For the past five years, Steele has been quietly buying used scooters and electric wheelchairs and fixing them up to give to people in need – for free, no strings attached.
“I refurbish them and give them to people who need them. It’s a free service I’ve been offering and I’ve given away around 20 of them,” said Steele, who works out of his garage.
While he was doing this strictly through word of mouth, he recently got in touch with the United Way of the Lower Mainland, and since then, the demand for scooters has exploded, he said.
“In the last six weeks there is an enormous demand, so the demand has outstripped the supply. I need some product,” said Steele.
He’s hoping people will donate their unused scooters.
“I’d say I’ve bought about 50 per cent of them so far. They come from as far as California, Saskatoon,” he said.
With a background in mechanics, refurbishing scooters and electric wheelchairs is a hobby and pleasure.
He is able to refurbish up to three scooters a day, if given the product, he said.
Not only does he give the scooters away free-of-charge, but he also performs all the maintenance on them for free for the duration of the equipment’s existence.
With 20 already given away, he remains in regular contact with most of the people who own the scooters.
“A lot of these people were housebound before, and they get a new life when they get a scooter,” he said.
“They are always very grateful. I’ve only had one casualty.”
Out of the 20 he’s given away, one was taken by a drug addict, who sold it.
The cost of a new electric wheelchair can run upwards of $5,000. A new scooter can cost $3,000.
It’s a price tag seniors or people with disabilities often can’t afford.
Bev Pitman of the United Way agrees.
“My job connects me with seniors and I can tell you, it’s an expense that is outside of reach, and yet a scooter can mean the difference between being a shut-in and getting out,” said Pitman, who has been working with Steele.
“He’s doing such a wonderful thing.”
Steele doesn’t believe in taking too much credit for it.
“My philosophy has always been ‘it’s better to give than to receive’.”
He said many scooters just need new batteries and he’s worked out a deal with Interstate Batteries.
Ironically, he has been outfitted with an electric wheelchair himself, with his occupational therapist recommending he use it.
So far, it isn’t getting a lot of use, as the spry senior still walks most of the day and when the weather gets good, he plans to be back on the golf course three times a week.
If you have a scooter or electric wheelchair that needs some work and you are willing to part with it or sell it, give Cliff Steele a call at 604-530-1272.