The Milford Elks Lodge is holding a fundraiser to help Alyssa Wolfe’s mother purchase a van that will transport a new motorized wheelchair (Photo courtesy of GoFundMe)
The Milford Elks Lodge will hold a “Share the Love” event on February 11 from 6 PM until 11 PM at the lodge. The event will include a dance, silent auction, 50/50 raffle as well as a cash bar with music provided by Nite Train.
“Alyssa has cerebral palsy and, around September of 2022, was losing strength in one of her arms requiring her to go to a motorized wheelchair,” Cyndee Sammons, Secretary of the Elks Lodge, said. “The chair weighs around 400 plus pounds and the metal ramp they used for her mother’s Honda Pilot was not conducive for a motorized wheelchair.”
Sammons explained that Alyssa and her moth have been at several of the Milford Elks youth events, including the Trunk or Treat held in October. She stated that members of the lodge read about Alyssa’s need for a van that would be capable of carrying the wheelchair in the news and knew they wanted to help. Sammons reached out to Alyssa’s mother, Sarah, who agreed to allow the organization to hold a fundraiser for her daughter.
“Our goal is to raise $50,000 to help her mother payoff two extremely large loans she took out to purchase the van,” Sammons said. “She is a single mother with three children and is a social worker herself. It was very hard for her to ask for help as, in her job, she is the one who is providing help to those in need.”
Sammons believes the van will cost over $70,000. Alyssa’s mother had to purchase the van in December as the motorized wheelchair had to remain at school since her Honda Pilot could not transport it, limiting Alyssa’s independence. A GoFundMe raised $16,000, allowing Sarah to put a down payment on the van.
“We are looking for volunteers for the event as well as for other projects the Elks has planned,” Sammons said. “We are also looking for sponsors for this event. We currently have one, Blue Hen Fuel, who has donated $500 and has challenged other companies in the area to match or beat that donation. There will be a sponsor board at the event for all those who are helping us. We are also looking for items and/or gift cards for baskets as well as completed baskets for the silent auction.”
Tickets for the event are $15 each in advance and $20 at the door or the day of the event. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Milford Elks Lodge, located at 18951 Elks Lodge Road in Milford, Monday through Friday from 4 PM until closing, which is between 9 and 11 PM. The lodge is also open on Sunday from 1 to 7 PM. Anyone who would like to donate or volunteer can contact Sammons at 484-942-4753 or Charlene Fuller at 302-422-4841. Donations can also be made to the GoFundMe by clicking here.
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