Rotary Club & TLSWF bequeath rehabilitation bus to New Taipei City
The China Post
December 28, 2012, 12:09 am TWN
By Joy Lee–Rotary International District 3480 Sub-District 12 and Taiwan Loves Social Welfare Foundation (TLSWF) yesterday donated a rehabilitation bus to the New Taipei City Government in an act of charity to aid the disabled.
New Taipei City Deputy Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) represented the city government in accepting the donation from Rotary Club of Taipei Nexus R.I. President Steven Chan (詹程凱) and TLSWF Chairman Huang Kuo Pao (黃國堡).
Hou said “there are over 140,000 New Taipei City residents with disabilities, so the demand for rehabilitation buses is very high. Thanks to donations from civil groups like Rotary International, the number of rehabilitation buses has increased from 20 in 2006 to 227 this year.”
Chan said that “rehabilitation buses serve like taxies for people with disabilities in New Taipei City. However, it could take up to two weeks to request rehabilitation bus service after making reservations in New Taipei City.”
“Through this donation by Rotary International and TLSWF,” Chan said, “it could hopefully provide disabled people in New Taipei City a more convenient way to travel around the city.”
According to Rotary International District 3480 Sub-District 12, this donation is also a celebration of Gary C.K. Huang (黃其光), a member of the Rotary Club of Taipei, being nominated in the election for 2014-15 Rotary International president.
Huang, who also attended the ceremony, said “I hoped through the work by Rotary International, the TLSWF, and other welfare foundations, we will be able to do more and help more people in the future.”
Rotary International District 3480 D.G.E. Charles Ya-Wen Chiu (邱雅文) said “our donation to New Taipei City Government is only a start in helping people with disability. The city will take on the most challenging parts, including regular maintenance and operation of the bus.”
TLSWF Chairman Huang said that the responsibility of the TLSWF is to support people who are in the midst of serious challenges. He said he hopes this donation will draw more attention from others to help minorities in Taiwan.
According to the New Taipei City Government, among the 227 rehabilitation buses, 143 of them were donated by civil groups or individuals. These vehicles have served more than 360,000 people from January to November this year.
Deputy Mayor Hou said that so far there are enough ambulances in New Taipei City. If civil groups, individuals or businesses would like to make donations, please consider donating rehabilitation buses first.
The original news is available at: http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2012/12/28/365498/Rotary-Club.htm
