Volunteer Helped With Fundraising to Bring Swing for Disabled

For many children and adults who use a wheelchair there are certain restrictions to their mobility and sometimes, recreation. It was because of this that a device called the Devine Liberty Swing was created.

The Liberty Swing works similar to an ordinary swing, but it is designed to safely accommodate a wheelchair. Part of what makes the Liberty Swing unique is the swing has a ramp attached to it so that a wheelchair can be rolled up on to it.

“There are other types of swings that are similar but nothing that lets an individual stay in their wheelchair,” said Kelly Brooks, who served on the Devine Liberty Swing fundraising committee.

The first swing in St. Charles County was recently installed and the device is only the second of its kind in the state, with the other swing located in Union, Missouri. The St. Charles County Liberty Swing is only the thirteenth swing in use in the U.S.

The Cottleville Firefighters Community Outreach came together as a group with the mission to bring the swing to the community. The swing is located in Legacy Park in Cottleville, behind City Hall and was dedicated in the summer of 2011.

Since the swing is built in Australia, the costs to get a Liberty Swing here in the U.S. can be expensive. With shipping, the cost of the swing is over $15,000. Brooks said once installation is factored in the cost is much more.

Brooks said the community came together for the Devine Liberty Swing project and donated not only money, but muscle as well.

“Iron workers installed the fencing around the swing and the Cottleville firemen installed the swing, it was a group effort,” she said.

Brooks said some of the fundraising events to raise money for the swing were Cottleville Firefighters Community Outreach’s annual Run for the Helmet, a fall festival and a trivia night. In kind donations were also given by individuals, she said.

“The Liberty Swing was a special project and that was the most money we’ve ever raised for one project,” she said.

All together the organization raised more than $30,000 to go toward the swing and it took under a year to complete the project. Brooks said she is glad to be a part of an organization that gives back to the community.

“CFCO is the greatest group, I come from a family where there are firemen in the family and I think it’s in their nature, firemen bring community together,” she said.

Brooks said there are many other programs within CFCO that benefit the community, including a no text and drive campaign that the organization will roll out in 2012.

“They’re letting the community know they do more than just show up at the scene of a fire,” she said of the fire department.

When she is not volunteering in the community, Brooks works for an HR consulting firm and she is a CFCO board member.

Prior to her current job, she worked for Habitat for Humanity in St. Peters. Brooks was the development coordinator, a position she held for about three years. While there, Brooks coordinated a women’s build program.

The all women building project is a national program, and was the first one at the St. Peters Habitat for Humanity affiliate.

“The program encourages women to volunteer and get involved at the build site,” Brooks said of the building project.

Brooks said she started volunteering with the Humane Society when she was a teenager. While in high school she participated in the A+ program and devoted 50 hours to tutoring other students. Brooks said she also served food at various shelters with her parents when she was growing up

“My parents always had me volunteer to help others who were less fortunate,” Brooks said of her upbringing.