OLD ORCHARD BEACH — A fundraising effort to purchase a second beach wheelchair for the town is more than halfway toward completion, and local Red Hat Society Ladies are urging people to contribute to the cause.

In late 2014, a beach wheelchair was purchased through a joint effort between the town and the Saco Bay Rotary Club. The PVCBW-4 Beach Access Chair, manufactured by New Jersey Company AccessRec, has large wheels that allow for easier access on sand, and the PVC frame doesn’t chip, peel, rust, fade or discolor if exposed to salt water, according to information on the company’s website.

The cost for the chair plus shipping and handling was about $1,700, according to Recreation Director Jason Webber.

The chair was put in use for the first time last summer, with reservations made through the recreation department. The chair was used by 15 families, according to town documents.

A fundraising effort for a second chair was spearheaded in the fall by a Salvation Army officer from Pennsylvania, and since then other donations have trickled in.

On Tuesday night, a local chapter of the Red Hat Lady Society donated $400 toward a second chair.

Red Hat Lady Janet Doherty said she’d like to see other organizations, as well as residents and businesses, contribute money so the town can purchase a chair before the summer.

With the most recent donation, $975 has been raised toward the purchase of a second beach wheelchair, according to Assistant Town Manager V. Louise Reid.

Donations can be sent to the Town of Old Orchard Beach, Office of the Finance Director, 1 Portland Ave., Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064. It should be noted on the memo line of the check that the money is for the beach wheelchair.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].