The American Women’s Welfare Association donated a wheelchair accessible van, valued at two million yen, to the Yomitan Quegoen, an institution that provide transportation for mentally and physically impaired adults Dec. 2 in Yomitan Village.
AWWA is made up of five spouse clubs on Okinawa. The Kadena Officers’ Spouses’ Club, the Naval Officers’ Spouses’ Club of Okinawa, the Army Community Group of Okinawa, the Okinawa Enlisted Spouses’ Club and the Marine Officers’ Spouses’ Club.
According to Diane Papaj, the president for Marine Officers’ Spouses’ Club, it’s not easy to raise the much needed money.
“Our volunteers work thousands of volunteer hours at gift shops on military bases on Okinawa,” said Papaj. “In return, the shops donate 50 cents of every dollar profited to AWWA.”
The Yomitan Kyugoen community appreciates the initiative of the AWWA, according to Kenji Higa, the director of Yomitan Kyugoen.
“AWWA has given us a wheelchair accessible van,” said Higa. “We are very thankful because we need it for transportation.”
This isn’t the first time that AWWA has supported the community in this manner, according to Meghan Walsh, the president of AWWA.
“In November 2000, we donated almost 6 million yen to the institution for a bus with wheelchair access and over 1 million yen for a kiln,” said Walsh.
AWWA continues fostering the relationship with the community of Okinawa through charitable donations, friendship and community involvement.