PROJECT-REFILL 💧 : CLEAN WATER, NO STRINGS ATTACHED

In Denver and across Colorado, the number of people experiencing homelessness continues to rise—while access to basic necessities like clean, safe water becomes harder to find.

During extreme heat waves, the risk turnsdeadly. Public drinking fountains are often shut off. Shelters run low on supplies. And for those living outside, something as simple as staying hydrated becomes a daily battle.

That’s where these three community-led initiatives come in—working together to bring water, care, and visibility to people too often ignored:

This is the core mission: inspire people everywhere to donate water and sun protection supplies to support those who are unhoused, overlooked, or vulnerable to the elements. Anyone can participate—neighbors, schools, churches, businesses. You don’t need permission to care. You just need to act.

This weekly movement creates a rhythm of giving. Every Wednesday, people across Colorado (and beyond) drop off sealed water bottles, reusable bottles, sunscreen, hats, and hygiene items at local drop-off sites. It’s a way to build consistency, raise awareness, and meet urgent needs before the next crisis hits.

This is the hands-on, mobile response. Project Refill delivers the donated supplies directly to people on the streets—in parks, at encampments, near shelters, and during outreach events. It offers free water, reusable bottles, filters, and cleaning tablets to those who need them most, when they need them most. No judgment. No strings. Just relief.

In recent summers, Denver has faced record-breaking heat. When shade is scarce, shelters are full, and public services are stretched thin, access to water becomes a life-or-death issue. People are collapsing from heat exhaustion, going days without hydration, and suffering in silence.

Our streets shouldn’t be where people die of thirst.

Project Water Drop, Wednesday Water Drop, and Project Refill exist to change that.

Together, they form a compassionate, community-driven response to a public health crisis—one that’s growing more urgent every summer.

• Donate water or supplies on Wednesdays—or any day that works for you
• Start a drop-off site in your neighborhood or workplace
• Partner with us to distribute supplies directly
• Spread the word—so no one faces the heat alone

📍 Based in Colorado.

💧 Inspired by lived experience in Parkersburg, WV.

🛻 Built for our community’s most vulnerable.

Learn more and get involved at ProjectWaterDrop.com (under construction)

Because no one should have to fight this hard to stay hydrated.

We have also acquired WednesdayWaterDrop.com and Project-Refill.com We’ve got some work to do!

This project builds on over two decades of experience supporting adults with developmental disabilities, many of whom have historically had fewer opportunities for outdoor recreation. Through work in caregiving, programming, and advocacy, one pattern became clear: meaningful access to nature requires the right equipment, the right information, and a shared commitment to equity.

While Colorado’s state park track chair program is a valuable resource, its availability is currently limited to select parks and designated routes. Wheels in the Wild aims to go further—literally and figuratively—by placing adaptable mobility tools like the Extreme Motus chair into more communities and offering expanded access to natural spaces, campgrounds, and trailheads that are typically out of reach for standard wheelchairs.

The Extreme Motus wheelchair is designed specifically for outdoor terrain. It features a lightweight aluminum frame and three large, low-pressure tires that function like suspension. These tires allow the chair to roll over dirt, gravel, rocks, snow, sand, and even shallow water—making it much more versatile than traditional mobility devices. Because the chair is buoyant, it can even float in water, enabling users to join friends and family in lakes and pools rather than remaining on the sidelines.

For families and caregivers, this equipment also changes what’s possible. Pushing a standard wheelchair off-pavement is physically demanding, especially over distance or uneven ground. Having the right chair reduces fatigue, makes outings more feasible, and improves the experience for everyone involved. This isn’t just about individual access—it’s about shared adventures and increased quality of life for entire households.

In my own experience, I support someone with increasing medical needs, including mobility limitations and oxygen support. Standard wheelchairs are difficult to load, push, or transport on uneven surfaces, especially in Colorado’s outdoor environments. And yet, these are the spaces where joy and connection happen—where people thrive. The more we looked into solutions, the clearer it became that a better tool could mean the difference between staying home or hitting the trail.

That’s where this project began.

Over time, it’s grown into a broader vision: combine caregiving insight, creative communication, and outdoor advocacy to build something that helps others too. Through storytelling, partnerships, and community engagement, we want to make these chairs available to people across Colorado—not just at parks, but at local trailheads, campgrounds, and outdoor events.

📷 Part of this journey also includes capturing and sharing what happens when mobility barriers are removed. The person I support can’t speak, but we document every outing with Polaroid photos—moments of joy, nature, and discovery. These photos help tell her story when words can’t. They’re reminders of how much is possible when someone is given the right support to participate.

That’s what Wheels in the Wild is really about. Not just access—but visibility, dignity, and inclusion.

We’re currently building the foundation: securing initial funding, identifying accessible trails, connecting with partners, and developing educational outreach. Future plans include offering mobile access to equipment, coordinating group hikes, and helping families locate and use gear that meets their needs.

The trail doesn’t end where the pavement does—it begins wherever we dare to make it accessible.

And we’re just getting started. ♿🌄

Follow along at WheelsInTheWild.com (under construction)

We’re currently seeking:

✅ All-terrain wheelchair sponsorships or donations

✅ Grants or funding support

✅ Partnerships with trail organizations, gear companies

✅ Stories from families like ours who would benefit from better access

✅ Donated gear to support outdoor adventures

✅ Visibility and amplification—help us spread the word!

We also believe in community-powered change. We want to host hikes, partner with adaptive outdoor programs, and make sure that no one gets left behind just because their needs are different.