A week of frustration and sometimes pain ended with a little ray of hope Friday for Alicia Hopkins.

The Akron artist, writer and advocate for the disabled lost use of her motorized wheelchair when it broke down as she was going to a North Hill event.

Since then, Hopkins said, she’s been stranded in her apartment and forced to use a manual wheelchair that’s toppled twice.

The second time, Hopkins hurt her knee — but that’s not as bad as the lack of mobility she’s had to endure, she said.

When Hopkins’ story went public last week, several offers to give or lend her a motorized unit were made by folks wanting to help. Offers came from individuals and organizations in the Akron area.

Hopkins recently was recognized by the Beacon Journal as an Unsung Hero in the Akron community after she was nominated for her volunteer and advocacy work for those with disabilities.

Hopkins needs about six months until she’s eligible for another unit from Medicare. As an outgoing advocate for the disabled, mobility is essential to her.

"I had another fall [last night] because of my wheelchair problem," Hopkins said Thursday. "I was able to pull myself up to the wheelchair level, [but] my knee is messed up."

Hopkins said that she’s grateful for the outpouring of support and offers, but none of the chairs she tried worked.

But after several disappointments Thursday, Hopkins may have found a wheelchair that meets her needs.

On Friday, Hopkins used a broken manual chair and the help of a friend to visit Mike McNulty, chaplain of the American Legion Firestone Memorial Post 449.

McNulty responded Thursday after reading a story about Hopkins’ plight. A wheelchair the post had stored for about six months might fill the bill, he hoped. A member donated it to the post and they hadn’t found a use for it.

At Post 449 headquarters on Kenmore Boulevard, Hopkins settled into the chair for a test.

While her friend Sarah Klinger looked on, Hopkins smiled: The chair was the proper size and built to the right dimensions.

Hopkins said the wheelchair should work if the battery functions properly. The post was charging it overnight to see how long the batteries would last.

Hopkins wrote in an email that she’ll have diagnostics conducted on it to be sure about how long it will operate. If it’s her temporary solution, she doesn’t want it to break down while she’s coming home from a meeting or the store.

Hopkins is not alone in her need or her plight.

According to estimates from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, about 2.7 million Americans needed wheelchairs in 2015. In a study published online, the center said that wheelchairs help provide badly needed mobility for many disabled people.

"Independence in mobility is one of the most important determinants of quality of life for individuals with disabilities," the study reads.

Hopkins feels that keenly every day she’s without her motorized wheelchair.

"My wheelchair helps me in my home but it also happens me get involved in the community," she said.

Alan Ashworth can be reached at 330-996-3859 or emailed at aashworth@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj.