Helping a man named Matthew

Helping a man named Matthew (letter)
Letter to the Editor

On Sunday, July 28, I stopped by the Metro Bank in the afternoon, just before they closed. As I was sitting in the drive-through lane, I had time to notice there were some people having a car wash fundraiser. Now, they didn’t seem to be doing any business, probably because when you know it’s going to rain, you figure, why bother.

When I turned in off of Carlisle Road, I noticed a young woman holding up a sign in the entrance to the bank that simply was hand lettered, “FUND RAISER CAR WASH — $5 donation.”

It didn’t say what it was for, so I didn’t pay much attention.

Maybe you’re like me, you like to know where the money is going, so I appreciate it when I can tell if it’s a school group or the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts or someone hoping to raise money for a good cause. And I never get the car wash, but occasionally I will simply give them a few dollars to encourage them. Most of them have relatives and neighbors that come out to support the group, so it’s not a total waste of time.

But this group had no one.

I noticed there was a young man in a wheelchair among the people in the group. I thought perhaps he was family or friends of the group, there for support.

The Lord spoke to my heart and said go get your car washed, don’t just give a few dollars. People are proud and like to feel valued, so I pulled in, handed them my $5 and said I would like a car wash.

Well, let me tell you, that car wash was the best one — I’ve paid a lot more for anywhere else. I had five or six people, including a little boy about 6 years old, hosing, scrubbing and drying with more energy than I have most days.

When they finished, I put my window down and asked the man outside my window what the fundraiser was for. He looked over at the young man in the wheelchair who had no legs and said, “Matthew, she wants to know what the fundraiser is for.”

Matthew looked me in the eye and said, “I’m trying to raise money so we can get a wheelchair-accessible van.”

I thanked them for the great car wash, wished him success with his efforts, and said to the group in general, “I guess it’s hard to have a car wash fundraiser when all they’re calling for is rain.” To which the young woman replied with a sad smile, “That’s just our luck”.

I don’t know about you, but that touched my heart. I don’t know how he lost both his legs. I just know I am fortunate enough to walk, talk and work, so I have a lot to be grateful for. Maybe you are, too — maybe you can help Matthew.

JEANIE RICHCREEK
WEST MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP

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