Help Elizabeth Shaffer Get An Accessible Van

Hello to our community,

As many of you know, my mom's Multiple Sclerosis has progressed in the past 6 years. She is now using a power wheelchair, utilizing the mobility she has in her left, non-dominant hand to operate the joystick. Because of the fact that my mom spent the years before her symptoms raising four kids and going back to school for Social Work (graduating a year before her symptoms became debilitating),  she did not earn enough  work credits and therefore does not qualify for disability assistance. She is still ten years away from being eligible for Medicare. This means that full-time home care, assistive technology, and home modifications have been and will continue to be out of pocket expenses for my family.  

Currently, we have no way to transport my mom outside of the house in her power chair due to its weight. Our hope is to get my mom an accessible van so that she can participate in and enjoy the things she used to do, such as visiting friends and family, going to church, going up to Lake Michigan, volunteering at hospice, riffing through produce at the grocery store, and going on walks through the MetroParks.  

The total cost of a used, accessible van is between 40-45k. This includes the price of the van and around 20-25k in added conversions cost to make it handicap accessible. We are hoping to offset the conversion part of this purchase through the contributions we might raise. This is why we have chosen 25k as our target amount. We plan on closing this fundraiser at the end of August. 

To give clarity on our situation, my family is focusing their financial resources on modifying our house to include a first floor accessible bedroom and bathroom, so that my mom can stay at home. With this, in addition to upcoming care expenses and other adaptations, we are experiencing financial strain and would like to minimize any additional borrowing that we can. 

It is difficult to ask for help. I know that many of us are under financial strain due to COVID-19, and there are so many organizations to donate to that are fighting for racial and economic justice in our current moment. It is easy to feel like there is not enough, but we believe that orienting ourselves toward abundance, community, and generosity brings about the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth for all of us. 

If you cannot help financially, there are so many other ways to bless my mom during this time! Spiritual nourishment through phone calls, visits, mail, and prayer all bring joy to my mom. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this. We love you and are already so thankful to be a part of a caring community!!