Hope Haven West

04/04/2026

Looking back now,
it almost sounds unbelievable.

Smoke-filled rooms.
Toys we probably shouldn’t have touched.

Games that were a little dangerous.
But a lot of fun.

We didn’t overthink everything.
We just lived it.

We laughed harder.
Played longer.

And we didn’t complain much.

Maybe it wasn’t perfect.
But it made us tough.

And it gave us stories
that today’s world will never understand.

04/04/2026

Before all the safety features…

there was one thing you trusted more than anything.

Mom’s arm.

The second she hit the brakes,
that arm came across like a barrier.

Instant.
Protective.
Unshakable.

You felt it without even thinking.

And somehow…
that small gesture meant everything.

It wasn’t about technology.
It wasn’t about regulations.

It was instinct.
Love.
Protection.

A quiet reminder that someone was always watching out for you.

And even now…
years later…

people still remember that moment.

Because it wasn’t just about safety.

It was about care.

The kind you don’t forget.

03/28/2026

Hey, we've been traveling the world and we're going to Portoviejo, Ecuador in April, Oaxaca, MX in May, Leon, MX in August, Kenya, Africa in September, and Orizaba, MX in October! We just got back from Chiapas, MX where these great pictures were taken. Come join us and help give the gift of mobility, and while you're there see a great part of the world. For more information click this link:
https://hopehavenwest.com/newsletter

03/28/2026

The 2026 Birthday Bash is on June 26th! This is our big fundraiser for the year. Join us and support the cause. We've completed seating clinics in Palawan, Philippines and Chiapas, Mexico so far this year! And we have many more to come in Ecuador, Kenya, and Mexico so see a great concert and help us give the gift of mobility! For tickets click here:
https://thestate.org/events/uncle-lonny-presents-paul-thorn-062026-2/

10/01/2025

We've finished five amazing seating clinics this year seating over 1,000 kids! Hope Haven West isn't done yet and we need your help in Lima and Piura, Peru in November! Please contact us immediately if you would like to make this last trip of 2025 and help a bunch of kids receive wheelchairs and the gift of mobility before the 2025 holidays. Please contact Lonny Davis at [email protected]

2025 Schedule-
Orizaba, MX - 1/5-1/6 (Finished)
Lima, Peru 3/22 - 3/28/25 (Finished)
Merida, Villahermosa, and Chiapas, MX
5/17- 5/31/25 (Finished)
Irapuato, MX -7/26-8/1 (Finished)
Veracruz, MX - 9/9-9/14 (Finished)

Lima & Piura, Peru - 11/7-11/20 (Need Volunteers)

We got back from Veracruz a few weeks ago and here are a few of the photos. What an amazing group of kids and parents. Come join us and see what it's all about! More on our website at www.hopehavenwest.com/newsletter

01/27/2025

February 2025 Newsletter

Threw the bums a dime, in your prime - didn’t you?

Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling Stone

If you haven’t seen the new Dylan movie - “A Complete Unknown” - drop everything and get to a theater now - award winning performance! Nothing whatsoever to do with Hope Haven West - but then, whoever accused Uncle Lonny of being a one trick pony?

The Boys are Back…

First week of January - small reconnaissance party from Hope Haven West descended on Atlacomulco, Cuernavaca, and Orizaba, Mexico. Stated purpose was to provide an assembly clinic for partners in Cuernavaca who are scheduled to receive 1000 unassembled Hope Haven Kids Chairs later this month. Makes perfect sense to me that we use the shekels saved on shipping unassembled chairs to pay salaries ($15.00 daily going rate in Mexico) of disabled mechanics! What say you?

Orizaba was scheduled to be a walk in the park - assessment of warehouse and identifying wheelchairs and equipment that we plan to ship for projects in Southern Mexico scheduled in May (details below). Our partners said, “Nay Nay” - and we ended up seating 60 disabled kids in Orizaba (Rotary partners in Orizaba - legendary in commitment to assist disabled poor in state of Veracruz).

March 22nd through 28th - Lima, Peru is teed up, tickets purchased, and team is ready to roll. If you are interested in slipping in the back door on this project - do not dilly-dally (contact me today for information). Lima is a stone cold trip (and the opportunity to extend your time in Peru include some bucket list options that are crying for you to check off your list).

GoFundMe page in memory of Mark Burden (volunteer extraordinaire and dearly missed part of Hope Haven West family) is still posted and receiving donations to fund the Lima, Peru project. More than half way to their goal - get on the bus and help push us over the top…

May 17 through 31 - The Big One! Southern Mexico - Merida, Villahermosa, Chiapas - caramba (not a place)! Plan is to spend 18th through the 22nd in Merida (safest city in Mexico - really), fly on the 22nd to Villahermosa where the Rotary clubs hospitality is verging on ridiculous (people on diets are appointed special monitors). Morning of the 25th a bus has been arranged for our team to be transported to Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas (where our team will provide specialty wheelchairs for over 200 kids - most of which, this will be their very first wheelchair and opportunity for mobility). Great trip - incredible partners - unforgettable adventure…

Save the Date - May 9th - The State Theater, Modesto - California Zephyr (last of the “Legends Series).

Not too late to get your logo on this fine poster (many thanks to all our sponsors who continue to fuel the incredible work that volunteers from Hope Haven West are engaged in).

Tickets for California Zephyr are now available at the box office and at thestate.org or click here. https://thestate.org/events/uncle-lonny-presents-california-zephyr-052025/

Not a night to miss - big X on that calendar today - May 9th.

Additional projects and travel/adventure opportunities with Hope Haven West are in the works - keep an eye for opportunities (we post as soon as plans crystalize and dates are secure).

Rockin’ in the free world,

Uncle Lonny
Hope Haven West

Hope Haven West is a non profit 501(c)(3) #46-1465670 located at 1878 E. Hatch Road in Modesto, California 95351.

10/14/2024

We arrived in the Philippines and were warmly welcomed! The seating clinic will be starting soon. 🤓

08/06/2024

August 2024 Newsletter
Summertime - and the livin’ is easy, fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high…

-George Gershwin

Heavens to Murgatroyd - Hot time in the old town - “even”

-Snagglepuss

Teams are scheduled for two additional Hope Haven West projects this summer. Both of these teams are now complete, tickets purchased and hotel and ground transport being arranged.

September 8th through 12th - Cancun (I suspect that photos from this project will stir some jealousy - resort living - will we ever be the same)?

October 13th through the 24th - Philippines (OK - we might be able to squeeze a couple of you in last minute - but, your gonna have to beg)… Flights are a bit spendy (and long), but what a great way to do some island hopping and hang out with locals who want to immerse you in the exotic “Pearl of the Orient”. Seriously - if interested - act fast…
July has been a month for getting material moved into position for next years projects. Wheelchairs are being shipped to Mexico, inventory staged for projects in Peru, Mongolia, El Salvador and other possible destinations.

Volunteers continue to churn out Hope Haven Kids chairs at our warehouse located at 1628 Nadine Avenue in Modesto. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings (before it gets unbearably hot) there is a team of dedicated worker bees that descend on this site and assemble multitudes of little chariots for disabled kids. No experience required - this team is happy to train any willing soul in the fine art of chariot assembly - just show up.

Chief worker bee is Nick Mascitelli (209-765-3304) or email [email protected] give him a call or email and he will place you on the list of volunteers and keep you updated on all of our opportunities and projects that are taking place locally.

Big shout out to volunteers from Teen Challenge and Modesto Gospel Mission who continue to faithfully assist with loading trucks and containers of wheelchairs and mobility equipment that is being shipped from Hope Haven West to partners throughout the world. Young muscle means the world in getting these trucks loaded…

Chris Murphy and Jay Casey - still our heroes in providing warehouse space to store completed inventory. Don Murphy - remains the front man for picking up wheelchairs and mobility equipment in Northern California (this dude logs some miles folks). If your Jonesing for a road trip - Don is your man (just contact Nick above and let him know you’re available for a ride-along).

Y’all join the team - get on the bus!

Waging Heavy Peace,

Uncle Lonny
Hope Haven West

07/11/2024

07/09/2024

June had us running like drunk monkeys…

Ecuador - Incredible distribution with a diminished team (9 hearty souls - small but powerful)!

Irapuato - History in the making - first ever distribution joining the efforts of ALEM and World Access Project (both organizations fielding disabled wheelchair mechanics in a seating clinic that offers a glimpse of the future in partnership with Rotary in Mexico).

OK FOLKS - BUCKLE UP WERE HITTING THE BOOSTERS AND ENGAGING THE WARP DRIVE - HERE ARE THE NEXT TWO (AND ONLY TWO) PROJECTS SCHEDULED IN 2024

Cancun - September 5th through 13th

Our first ever project in the resort city of Cancun. Our Rotary partners in this district are known for maniacal hospitality - already putting together an itinerary of fun and frolic (following the distribution of course) that will become the stuff of legend. Jump on the volunteer boat and get your name on the list today (this one will fill up fast)!

Extend your trip? Another history making offering from Hope Haven West… Hey, you’re in Cancun - easy to tack on adventures; diving, Belize, fishing/snorkeling, resorts, beaches - sky’s the limit…

Or - hang with Uncle Lonny for a quick trip to Orizaba (state of Veracruz) where the Hope Haven West team will be holing up at the Gama Hotel (nice place) in this quaint little berg where we plan to spend two days organizing, assembling and staging wheelchairs for future Mexico projects.

Philippines - October 13th through 24th

Another first for Hope Haven West. Partnering with Fenixia Foundation, Rotary and a cast of thousands - Hope Haven West descends on three islands within the span of a whirlwind week - providing 200 wheelchairs and mobility equipment - exuding effervescent joy and forging friendships that undoubtedly will result in many additional opportunities to assist the disabled poor in these exotic islands. Islands and cities include, Mindanao, Bacolod, Davao, Manti - and of course, flights route through Manila.

Extensions anyone? (after all - you've come a long way, baby) Options include; resorts, island hopping, beautiful beaches, diving, ridiculous seafood and San Miguel Beer! We have world class agents and planners to assist with arrangements for those wishing to avail themselves of the amenities of this tropical paradise.

Tickets are now being purchased for both of these travel/adventure opportunities with Hope Haven West. These will be the final two projects for 2024. We would love to have you join our happy band of Merry Pranksters… No experience necessary, job for everyone, hook up with a veteran or seating specialist and love on some kids to whom you will provide the life changing gift of mobility.

Hope Haven West is a 501(C)3 Non-Profit, tax deductible organization (100% Charity - no salaries, administrative fees or fund raising expenses). Save your receipts for your flight and hotel and write off your expenses.

Finally, I would be remiss not to once again thank all of those assisting with our sponsor program (allowing students and seating specialists who cannot afford the expense of travel opportunity to participate in HHW projects)! Your generosity allows for the inclusion of many (like the volunteers from ALEM and World Access Mission) to contribute their expertise and talent to these projects.

Waging Heavy Peace,

Uncle Lonny
Hope Haven West