Shopping cart helps local 4-year-old feel “part of the world”

REGINA – Getting groceries at a local supermarket got easier for customers accompanied with children with special needs today with the addition of a special shopping cart.

“It makes me feel like he can be included, and he can be part of the world,” said Leanne Scott, mother of four-year-old Callum Scott-Fuhr.

Scott-Fuhr got to ride a Caroline’s Cart at the Safeway in the Cathedral Village neighbourhood Friday morning. The cart, created in the United States, features a large seat with straps.

Scott pitched the idea to the store after struggling to push and pull a wheelchair and a shopping cart while getting groceries.

“Any time you can give back and do good things for others it’s a great, rewarding experience, so we’re truly blessed,” said Brent Kaminiski, manager of the store.

The cart came with a $1,000 price tag, split equally between the store and Elks of Canada, a volunteer organization.

“This is the second one in Canada presented here today but we are ready to take orders,” said Dale Strandlund, a member of Regina Elks #9.

The cart’s seat is designed for children, mainly, but anyone weighing up to 250 lbs can use it.

Last month, the organization helped get one of the carts into an Alberta grocery store.

“Callum’s got enough obstacles to deal with, so the more things like this that sort of  just make it easier for us not have to really think about these things, then I think the better his world will be,” said Dale Fuhr, Callum’s father.

The parents hope the cart will help with more than just getting groceries.

“His confidence will build because it won’t be like there’s something different here, this is just the norm. This is just another outing, and I can be part of this. I think, psychologically, it’s as important for him as it is physically,” he added.

The end goal is to put the cart into all of the chain’s stores, said Strandlund.