A Better Way to Shop

A Better Way to Shop Together: Our Custom Solution for a Mother and Son

For many families, a trip to the grocery store is routine. For Anna and her 8-year-old son Isidoro, it was anything but.

Isidoro has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, and like many parents, Anna wanted him to be part of everyday activities like grocery shopping. But the logistics made something simple feel nearly impossible.

Standard solutions weren’t working. The in-store Caroline Cart (available at most grocery stores) was often unavailable, too large to navigate easily, and didn’t provide the support Isidoro needed, causing him to slide down in the seat. Using it also required physically transferring him in and out, adding another layer of difficulty to an already demanding task. At the same time, pushing a wheelchair while carrying groceries, especially heavier items like cat litter or cases of water, was not sustainable.

Anna’s request to May We Help was heartfelt and practical:
Is there a way for my son to stay in his wheelchair while also having a cart that allows me to shop normally?

Turning a Challenge Into a Design Opportunity

When longtime May We Help volunteer Bob Woolf saw the request, he immediately recognized an opportunity.

Bob, a seasoned product designer with decades of experience in medical equipment, consumer goods and manufacturing, had spent his career solving real-world problems through thoughtful design. Since joining May We Help in 2014, he has completed close to 100 custom projects. Each one tailored to the unique needs of an individual.

This project reminded him of something unexpected: Halloween.

Each year, Bob creates custom costume platforms for wheelchairs, using a simple but effective method: a board that rests securely on the armrests, creating a stable base to build from. He realized that same concept could be adapted into something functional for everyday life.

Designing for Independence and Engagement

From the start, Bob focused on more than just convenience. He wanted to preserve something important to both Anna and Isidoro.

Isidoro enjoys being involved during shopping trips, helping place items into bags and staying engaged in the process. Bob knew the solution needed to support that interaction, not replace it.

He began with research and sketches, gathering details about the wheelchair, dimensions and daily challenges. From there, he moved into prototyping, building a mockup using lightweight materials to test fit and function.

The final design was a custom-built, attachable grocery cart system that mounts directly onto Isidoro’s wheelchair. Using a sturdy but lightweight frame, the solution creates space for multiple reusable grocery bags on either side, allowing Anna to shop without juggling items or sacrificing mobility.

The structure is strong enough to hold heavy loads, up to 30 to 40 pounds per bag, while remaining balanced and safe. At the same time, it’s designed to be collapsible, making it easy to transport and store in the family’s van.

Built for Real Life

As with every May We Help project, real-world testing played a key role.

Bob brought the prototype into a grocery store to ensure it could navigate doorways and aisles. While the fully loaded setup requires some flexibility, such as using self-checkout or removing bags in tighter spaces, it dramatically improves the overall experience.

Instead of struggling to manage a wheelchair and groceries separately, Anna can now move through the store with a single, integrated system.

And most importantly, Isidoro remains comfortable, supported and actively involved.

The Power of Thoughtful Design

For Bob, projects like this are deeply personal.

After decades in product development, he approaches each request with the same level of care and intention as any professional engagement. His process, from research and ideation to CAD design and CNC fabrication, is rooted in one goal: creating something that truly works for the person who needs it.

At May We Help, volunteers like Bob donate not just their time, but their expertise. Every solution is custom, every challenge is unique and every outcome has the potential to change daily life in a meaningful way.

Making Everyday Moments Possible

For Anna and Isidoro, this project is about more than a grocery cart.

It’s about independence.
It’s about dignity.
It’s about being able to do something together that many people take for granted.

With a thoughtful, custom-designed solution, a routine trip to the store becomes the shared experience it should have always been.

And that’s exactly what May We Help is all about.