May We Help is an extraordinary organization comprising a dedicated team of volunteers who possess a wide range of skills and expertise. These volunteers include engineers, industrial designers, inventors, welders, woodworkers, seamstresses, doctors, occupational, and physical therapists. Their collective abilities merge to form a unique force that designs, constructs, and delivers custom devices to individuals with disabilities, all at no expense to the recipients.
By bridging the gap between available devices in the market and the specific needs of disabled individuals, May We Help becomes a game-changer in their pursuit of independence and passion. The organization is committed to empowering people with disabilities, enabling them to achieve their goals and lead more fulfilling lives.
"Elisabeth’s favorite activity is hiking with her older sister, Erin. In fact, they’ve been hiking together since they were kids. When Elisabeth was little, she’d sit in a kid’s backpack, which Erin hoisted onto their dad's back ... May We Help volunteers designed this solution which utilizes the family’s pickup truck! It eliminates anyone having to do any lifting at all, and now Elisabeth and Erin are back to hiking together again!"
—@may_we_help
May We Help's mission revolves around designing and creating custom solutions tailored to the unique requirements of individuals with special needs. The organization's vision is to ensure that all individuals with disabilities have the opportunity to attain independence and pursue their passions. Through their work, May We Help seeks to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities, addressing various community needs wherever possible.
The organization prides itself on its ability to expand its services to meet the ever-evolving demands of the community. By supporting and promoting inclusion, May We Help understands that vibrant communities flourish when everyone is given equal representation and opportunities. They actively engage in building devices that enable recipients to participate in inclusive activities, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment.
"Amias and his family love to play, do sensory activities, and read, but Amias is unable to sit without support, and all too often he and his family were interacting lying down. So May We Help volunteers made this activity chair, and now Amias can sit upright with his family while they spend time together!" —@may_we_help
Empathy is at the core of May We Help's approach. Volunteers embark on every project by conducting Discovery Visits, where they personally meet with recipients to gain a deeper understanding of their challenges and the environment in which they aim to thrive. This perspective enables the volunteers to create effective and personalized solutions.
Not limited to interactions with recipients alone, May We Help values empathy in all aspects of their work, ensuring they consider the perspectives of donors, partners, staff, and fellow volunteers. May We Help maintains its commitment to providing services free of charge, thanks to the invaluable contribution of volunteers and the unwavering support of their generous sponsors.
The organization traces its roots back to an encounter between engineer Bill Wood and a young lady with cerebral palsy, which sparked the initial inspiration for custom assistive devices. Over time, Bill Wood, Bill Deimling, and Bill Sand came together, leading to the birth of May We Help. Today, the organization's team of 75+ volunteers stands united, exemplifying their dedication to designing, building, and delivering life-changing devices to countless individuals each year.
"Colton rides a bike with training wheels, but he’s growing and the bigger bikes don’t come with training wheels! It’s also tough at times for Colton to keep his feet on the training wheels. So volunteers from @mcnicholashs, working alongside May We Help volunteers, customized this bike in time for it to be a surprise Christmas gift for Colton!" —@may_we_help
Our $1,000 donation will go toward supporting the dedicated volunteers of May We Help, who tirelessly work to unlock new opportunities for individuals to explore their full potential and embrace a future filled with possibilities.