ST. MARYS — The Elk County Community Foundation Donor Advisors of the Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund visited Penn Highlands Elk recently to present a check for $8,313 to expand their wheelchair inventory with a new style chair.

Like a conventional wheelchair, these new bariatric wheelchairs afford users increased mobility and independence both in private and public spaces. The bariatric chairs differ in several ways to accommodate a user’s larger size in addition to weight. Seats are made with extra reinforcement as well as increased dimensions to provide greater comfort and support of the back and gluteal areas. Depending on the manufacturer and the model, the chairs can accommodate users weighing from 250-700 pounds. Some models can transport heavier users weighing up to 1,000 pounds.

Bariatric wheelchairs allow their users to maintain their autonomy and dignity. They allow larger people to be mobile with minimal pressure on their legs, preventing discomfort and reducing the risk of falls. For hospital or residential care personnel, bariatric wheelchairs allow larger patients to be transported between their rooms to areas such as exam rooms, labs and common rooms safely. Conventional wheelchairs run the risk of frame failure which can lead to injury and lawsuits in addition to replacement and repair costs. They also make transfers from bed or regular chairs easier for nursing staff, reducing the chances of back injuries and related workers’ compensation costs.

The Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund is one of 144 funds that the Community Foundation manages. The Stackpole Family Fund is a donor advised fund that continues to support the philanthropic causes that were important to both Harrison and Muriel and the fund advisors are made up of their children, grandchildren and close friends.

The next round of grant applications is due on April 15.