Click lean on me cane project link to enter the updated website
The mission of the "Lean on Me Project" is to donated canes that help increase pride, confidence and self worth in ones disabilities. A good many disabled individuals have stated they won't use a medical cane because it makes them feel old or uncomfortable which they are doing more harm not using it. Jen Costello started the Lean On Me Program in October 2014. "After I donated my first cane and saw the joy of his face I knew this was my purpose. It is hard enough to have a disability but to have a medical cane makes it all the worse." Jen uses recycled materials to make her canes and walking sticks.
The artist Dick Naugle has joined the project April 2017 to provide donated canes to others suffering with long-term disabilities or a person that uses a cane daily. He has been carving since 2013 and uses raw materials to make his canes. Dick uses a variety of tools, stains and paints to decorate his canes. Dick's signature cane is a wood spirit but will provide custom design canes when requested. He is also disabled and was drawn to making canes for his mission and coping skill. Dick's donations will aid in reaching more people to have a specialized cane.
Provided below is an email to a request for a cane. We ask when requesting a cane the person or yourself has to use a cane daily. Canes are specialized to each person in order to help increase self-worth, acceptance of the disability and gain confidence. Each of Jen's canes takes over a month to carve with the limited capability of sitting or using my hands for periods of time.The email is caneforme@gmail.com
Written by, Deb C