Brookings Rotary Club members recently heard a firsthand account of Rotary’s global impact from Scott Parsley, who shared highlights from an international wheelchair distribution mission to Eastern Europe conducted in October.
Parsley was part of a team of Rotarians from across Rotary District 5610, including members from Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Custer, Madison, and Spearfish. Working alongside Hope Haven International, the group traveled to Romania and Ukraine to distribute and customize wheelchairs for children and adults with physical disabilities.
“Hope Haven has been doing this work in Romania since 1991, and their program has now expanded to more than 70 countries worldwide,” Parsley said. “What makes this mission special is how personal it is. You aren’t just delivering equipment, you’re working directly with families and individuals, fitting each wheelchair to their specific needs.”
During the trip, the team distributed dozens of wheelchairs in community centers, residential facilities, and private homes. Many recipients had never owned a wheelchair before, while others arrived using equipment that was unsafe or far too small. A licensed physical therapist traveled with the group to ensure each chair was carefully adjusted for comfort, mobility, and long-term use.
“Every wheelchair had to be customized,” Parsley explained. “Sometimes that meant taking the chair apart and rebuilding it so it wouldn’t cause pain or pressure. Watching someone roll away in a chair that finally fit them was incredibly moving.”
In Romania, the team also visited a newly completed wheelchair storage, repair, and distribution center built in partnership with a local Rotary club. The facility will serve as a permanent hub for fitting and repairing wheelchairs in the region.
The group later traveled through Moldova into Ukraine, where they conducted another distribution amid ongoing war conditions. While air-raid sirens sounded during their visit, Parsley said the resilience and hospitality of Ukrainian Rotarians left a lasting impression.
“These are some of the proudest people I’ve ever met,” he said. “They love their country deeply, and even in the middle of war, they welcomed us with gratitude and generosity.”
Parsley noted that Rotary clubs in Romania and Ukraine are also collaborating on a fundraising effort to install an elevator in a four-story children’s hospital that currently has none, forcing staff to carry children up and down stairs.
Reflecting on decades of volunteer work around the world, Parsley described this mission as especially impactful.
“I’ve built houses with Habitat for Humanity in multiple countries, and I’ve done a lot of international service,” he said. “This was one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve ever had because of how directly we connected with the people we were serving.”
Brookings Rotary Club members were encouraged to consider participating in future international service projects and supporting Rotary’s global humanitarian efforts.