FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Photo available upon request

ELKHART, IN—September 13, 2011 (James Street Media Services)—Ricon Corporation and PrimeTime Specialty Vehicle, Inc., two companies in Elkhart, Indiana, recently made donations that will benefit homeless military veterans and others in the South Bend area. At a ceremony on Wednesday, August 10, 2011, the companies delivered a specially-equipped van to the Center for the Homeless at 813 S. Michigan Street in South Bend, Indiana.

On November 11—Veteran’s Day—the center will open a new adjacent facility to house and assist homeless veterans. The new van will be used to transport veterans to Fort Wayne VA hospitals, appointments at medical treatment centers, and local activities and events.

PrimeTime produces conversion and mobility vans, med-transit vans and specialty shuttles. Ricon designs and manufactures wheelchair lifts and passenger access ramps for vans, buses and passenger railcars. Ricon also manufactures windows for transit buses.

The Med-Transit 8-passenger van presented to the Center has an extended-length raised roof, rear-raised doors, a fire extinguisher, and a first-aid kit. It includes a Ricon fully-automatic, electro-mechanical lift that accommodates wheelchairs and mobility-impaired individuals. The vehicle meets the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) standards and Ford Motors Company’s Qualified Vehicle Modifiers (QVM) program.

In addition to overnight accommodations and meals, the Center for the Homeless offers an on-site structured, step-by-step process for persons to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency. The program relies on partnerships with various sectors of the community and has been endorsed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Now in their 23rd year, the Center has served more than 45,000 men, women and children by linking them with the programs, agencies and people who can help them break the cycle of homelessness.

Contact:
Bill Urian
Marketing Communications Manager
Vapor Bus International
1010 Johnson Drive
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
847-777-6465

Photo Caption: Carrie Morton from Ricon Corporation (at right) demonstrates the wheelchair lift to Steve Camilleri – Executive Director, Center for the Homeless and Angela Willson – Director of Center Initiatives.