CBS 19 - The Eye of East Texas News - Tyler mom, daughter start Crutches for Haiti charity

Tyler mom, daughter start Crutches for Haiti charity

by Anthony Austin

TYLER (KYTX) - "Mom, they need crutches." A simple statement made by a Tyler teenager that is being put into action. CBS 19's Anthony Austin explains how an East Texas mother and daughter are collecting crutches for the people of Haiti.

Temple Mims wants to collect one thousand pairs of crutches by the end of this month for the people of Haiti. She says with the help of others, she can accomplish that goal.

"It's the simplest, one of the easiest things we can do."

Temple Mims and her mother, Paula, came up with the idea of collecting crutches for the disabled in Haiti after watching images of mass chaos on the nightly news.

"It was devastating to us and like so many other families was horrified at what was happening over there."

But one particular statement made by a reporter caught their attention.

"One thing that hit Temple and I to the core was that a lot of children had no way to get up to find their parents," said Paula.

That's because their limbs had been crushed by falling debris caused by the massive and deadly earthquake.

"They're just laying there, they can't get up to look for their parents, and there are kids there that are treated like dogs."

So, Crutches for Haiti was born.

"She said Mom, They need crutches and everyone has a set of crutches laying around."

With help from numerous East Texas agencies, the mother and daughter are collecting the used walking aids and making them brand new.

"New arm pieces, hand pieces, and toe stoppers."

For Temple, this act of compassion is dear to her heart. The 16-year-old suffered from a debilitating disease as a child.

"It was life threatening, I very easily could have died."

So, when she sees the images of children in need on her television, the message is clear.

"One pair of crutches for a child, that's a lifesaver."

A kick-off event will be held this Saturday at the Build-A-Bear workshop in the Broadway Square Mall in Tyler. The event begins at 10:00 am, and you can bring a pair of old crutches to donate - and even decorate them.  

You can also find more information at http://crutchesacrosstexas.org/index.html.