A Wheelchair Van for Shauna
Please help Shauna get personal transportation!!!
I know it is a lot to read, but I promise it is worth it to see why we are trying to raise money for Shauna.
Here it goes…
If you know or have ever met Shauna you know that she is the most genuine, positive, kind, caring and faith filled woman. She is ever so committed to her family, friends, students and God. She is always the first to offer help, guidance or prayer for someone else. She exudes kindness and generosity. She is also an incredible Title 1 teacher. I met Shauna over four years ago when we worked together at an elementary school in Los Angeles. From our working experience, I knew she was a special person.
Unfortunately, due to her current medical condition, Shauna is unable to get around without the help of a motorized chair. Para transit systems and public buses are her most common forms of transportation. Traveling this way on a daily basis can be very challenging especially if you have a full-time job as a Title 1 teacher.
The reality of how difficult and frustrating it can be relying on these forms of transportation occurred to me several months ago when we were visiting a friend who was very sick in the hospital. Shauna set up a pickup time with the para transit company following the visit for 5:15 pm knowing she had work the next day. To our dismay the van did not show up until an hour later. However, when Shauna was about to get in the van, the driver tells her that they first had to go to San Gabriel before they can take her home near downtown Los Angeles. This would have been an extra two hours! Never complaining, she calmly canceled the ride and called to set another appointment with the company which also ended up coming an hour later. In total, what would have been a 20-30 minute ride home in a car turned into a 3 ½ hour wait/commute to go twenty miles and having to teach the next day. This unfortunately is not uncommon.
As frustrating as this sounds, another equally troubling incident occurred about two months ago while at the funeral of our good friend. Following the service, the assembly was asked to follow in a procession for the burial at the other side of the cemetery. Not realizing that Shauna was unable to go, I followed the group. However, as I was driving by, I notice Shauna waiting by herself because she had no transportation to the other side of the cemetery and the hills were too big for her to scale with her chair. She was not able to go. Since I was asked to be part of the ceremony I had to go and sadly leave Shauna all by herself. Following the burial, Shauna was also unable to go to the reception because of the logistic of her paratransit ride and how difficult it is to get a ride on time.
These are just two instances of countless over years of having to depend on paratransit and public transportation. Knowing Shauna and how positive and full of faith she is, I began to think of ways to help her get her own personal transportation. She never asked or even hinted for it. I knew she would never get one for herself because she is so focused on helping/serving others.
With all this said, we are asking and trusting in faith that God will help provide the resources needed to help make personal transportation a reality for Shauna. Wheelchair access vans are not cheap. We are asking for any donation you can give to help Shauna purchase or obtain a car (donation). That is all. We are hoping for a wheelchair access van which run about $25,000 to $50,000+. All money goes directly to the purchasing of the van. We are praying that God will open the doors for Shauna and allow her to one day have her own transportation that will allow her to get to work, church, social events and do daily life without depending on other companies to transport her around. Whatever you feel compelled to give, we so greatly appreciate it! Every donation (little or big) helps! Thank you
for taking the time to visit the site and even consider a donation of any amount. We really appreciate it!
God Bless:)
Sincerely,
Aaron Napier
(Member of Team Shauna)