PET Florida

Mission Statement

To produce a "PET," which is a three-wheel, hand-pedaled wheelchair that can go where other wheelchairs can't. PET is an acronym for Personal Energy Transportation.

 To provide the free gift of mobility, PETs—three-wheeled, hand-pedaled wheelchairs—are offered in adult and small sizes to people living in poverty in economically developing countries. These individuals have lost the use of their legs due to land mines, disease, or accidents, and live in areas where traditional wheelchairs cannot function. The organization assembles PETs using volunteer labor.

The Rotary Club of Green Cove Springs has close ties with Penney Retirement Community, the birthplace of PET Florida. Ironically, after years of missionary service, PET Florida founder Larry Hills and his wife retired to Penney Retirement Community in 2001. Since then, many of our club members—and Rotarians from across District 6970—have volunteered their time at PET Florida.

For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the organization received approximately 10,830 hours of volunteer service from around 130 dedicated volunteers.

On May 18, 2024, a special ceremony was held to celebrate the installation of a new powder-coating machine, made possible by a $60,000 District Grant from Rotary.

Watch Larry Hills Interview: YouTube

Learn more about PET Florida: Website