Despite his injury he is married, and has a family of five. Together they manage a meager income with no previous hope of ever being able to buy a wheelchair. Each chair refurbished by Hope Haven volunteers has a card attached telling the donor of the chair as well as the volunteer who refurbished it. I thought it was something I could handle, so I started helping with the repairs. I've been coming ever since.
Burgers is retired, having been in the repair business in Rock Valley for many years.
He estimates monthly he refurbishes up to 40 wheelchairs, putting in about 70 volunteer hours. I keep helping out here because I enjoy it, and at the same time I'm doing a little good. Volunteers clean, grease wheel bearings, attach new upholstery and make other obvious repairs. The wheelchairs are then boxed for shipment. Information written on each box shows the size and type of chair.