A Morehead Life Care resident received a battery- powered wheelchair as a surprise gift from a local church and youth group Wednesday night. Youth members and a visitation minister were there to present the gift.
“She asked if we could help,” said Sharkey Freewill Baptist Church minister Ralph Taylor.
Taylor approached pastor Harley Sexton about the need and asked for some direction about providing for the need.
“My pastor led me to the youth director Barb Isom,” Taylor said. “She got the young people excited about it. It was their decision to have the car wash and bake sale.”
The youth group conducted the fundraisers in August and raised enough money in two weeks.
“Kentucky Bank was generous enough to provide the water and space to have the car washes,” Taylor said.
There were roughly 15 to 20 youth and some adults who came out to help.
“I even went out there and held a sign and washed cars,” he said. “Kenny Fouch, minister at the nursing home in Flemingsburg, was there. He, his wife and two daughters were also involved.”
He said everything they needed to get the chair fell into place.
“There was a guy who had one for sale,” he said. “Kenneth Butler’s family had it and they wanted a lot of money for it. We prayed about it. Then he lowered the price but it was not enough. We prayed about it again and then it got lowered to $500. It was worth $3,000.”
Once the church purchased the chair, they found out the batteries didn’t work.
“The lord worked that out,” Taylor said. “The batteries that go into those chairs are Jell Cell batteries. I called Napa. They wanted $143 for each. We needed two. I told him I was going to call everyone about getting a price for the chair and he quoted me $93 per battery and was going to sell me the batteries at that price.”
But Taylor said God had another plan in mind.
“God had an old wheelchair put in place for us,” he said. “There was an old battery-operated wheelchair that was not working. It had two batteries that were like new. We took the batteries out and put them in the chair. We did not have to buy the new batteries.”
The youth group and Taylor presented the wheelchair as a surprise to Margaret Roloson.
“She couldn’t say a lot. She was flabbergasted,” Taylor said. “She doesn’t hear real well. Ms. Margaret will use it as long as she needs it and it will be passed on to another resident in the center.”
“We hope to inspire others to do the same thing,” Taylor said. “We want to establish a tradition. Life Care can take care of some of their needs. They can provide security, food and shelter they need. They can’t provide friendship. There were smiles all over the place. The whole group was excited.”
Taylor said helping people in need is what his church is all about.
Local News
Related Photos
Youth help Life Care resident
- Local News
-
-
Morehead woman pleads guilty to incest, sodomy
A Morehead woman pleaded guilty Wednesday in Rowan Circuit Court to five crimes involving the sexual abuse of her young son. Brittany Henson, 22, pleaded guilty to incest, sodomy first degree, promoting a sexual performance by a minor, and possession and distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor.
-
KSP, corrections stage exercise in Clearfield
Residents of KY 519 and McBrayer Road in Clearfield were surprised Thursday morning to find groups of state corrections officers and state police troopers walking through their neighborhoods.
-
Stacy: UPIKE proposal would threaten Rowan economy
There was a decidedly different tone Thursday at the normally-jovial monthly luncheon meeting of the Morehead-Rowan Chamber of Commerce. “If I sound agitated, that’s because I am,” Rep. John Will Stacy said to a roomful of business and civic leaders.
-
Blevins won’t challenge Stivers in new district
After more than 30 years in the Kentucky General Assembly, Sen. Walter Blevins, D-Morehead, knows a politician has to be flexible. The veteran lawmaker did not file this week to run for reelection in the newly-aligned 25th District.
-
Two Rowan schools win Get Fit challenge
Students at Clearfield and McBrayer elementary schools hopped, skipped and jumped their way to a live dance party hosted by Radio Disney. They were among eight Kentucky schools with the highest participation in the Get Active, Get Fit School Challenge.
-
Alleged cyber sexual predator arrested
An alleged online sexual predator was arrested in Morehead yesterday at 1:10 a.m. after he arranged a meeting with what he thought was a 12 year-old female.
-
29 indicted by grand jury
Eight people were charged with engaging in a criminal syndicate among the 29 indicted by a Rowan County grand jury Jan. 20.
-
Medical e-record use mandate drawing nearer
Technology will be playing a bigger role in patient care than ever before.
-
MCTC cosmetology program opens doors for clients
The Cosmetology Program salon at Maysville Community and Technical College (MCTC) is now open for business. The salon is housed in MCTC’s new Downtown Extension located in the old Rowan County Middle School building.
-
KSP responds to KY 7 accident Saturday morning
Kentucky State Police at Morehead responded to a single-vehicle collision on KY 7 in the Wrigley community of Morgan County Saturday morning, January 28.
- More Local News Headlines
-
