There are so many other needs out there, but I want to write today to see if anyone has a van for the Hathaway family. Readers will remember Josef Hathaway and Frank the dog. (Where did the pictures go on that post? Yikes – technical problems. Hmmnf.) Josef’s father John has Marfan Syndrome and uses a power wheelchair for mobility (including lots of dog walks.) Their current van has over 260K miles on it, and has reached that point where even ridiculously frugal people like the Hathaways must accept it’s time to replace rather than repair.
They are fundraising, but we can think of many other dire situations where only cash donations will do — this is not one of those situations. The good news is that somewhere out there is the actual van that the Hathaways need. I’m asking you to please pray for the donor of this van. If you happen to own the van, now’s a good time to talk to the Hathaways about how to get it ready for them — note they’ve fundraised towards the cost of getting the wheelchair lift installed.
What the van is like:
It’s probably really ugly. You’re having a hard time selling this van, and honestly you’re not sure it’s worth the trouble. Good news: The Hathaways DON’T CARE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. The Hathaway Family has been voted The Family Least Likely Of Anyone On This Planet To Care About Appearances. They aren’t like that. At all. Ever.
It does not have mold or mildew problems. Mary (Mrs. Hathaway) has MCAS, so this feature is super important. A stripped-down work van, in contrast, might be ideal.
It can be made to seat six (including the driver). Remember, even if the van doesn’t have seats now, they can be installed using the fundraised money. The four Hathaway children are all old enough and physically grown enough to sit safely in adult passenger seats.
It can accommodate a lift for a power wheelchair. Again: This is something the Hathaway’s fundraising can cover, as long as the van itself shows up.
It is mechanically reliable. The Hathaway’s income (from work, for those who are wondering) puts them just above the threshold for many aid programs. Old and ugly are AOK, but frequent or expensive repairs are a significant strain on the family. They do not live in an area where it would be realistic to walk or get a ride home if the van broke down.
The Hathaways live in the Augusta, GA – Aiken, SC metro area. If you are in striking distance of that region, someone can make arrangements to pick up the van, or you could deliver it. They can make arrangements to have you donate the van through a local 501(c)3, both so that you can be assured you are meeting a legitimate need that other sane people have assessed, and so that you have the paperwork you need to deduct the value of your donation.
If you own this van and are ready to donate, you can contact John and Mary directly via their fundraising page, or find them at this blog’s discussion group.
If you know people who might have a line on a van, please share this info with them.
Everyone else: Please just pause and say a short prayer on behalf of the Hathaways and their many needs. God will sort out the details.
Thank you!
Photo of John & Mary Hathaway courtesy of the Hathaway family.