Steve Bennett Needs Our Help
Donation protected
Steve is a person who, despite multiple disabilities, has an established work history of more than 30 years. As the result of a fall at home in Sept 2013, he did severe damage to his left rotator cuff, which left him unable to ambulate with crutches and forced him into a power wheelchair full time. Although surgery was performed, rehabilitation and recovery did not go as planned. This left him unable to properly care for himself and forced him into early retirement at the age of 53.
In January 2014, friends, family and co-workers organized a benefit to help purchase a power wheelchair and a wheelchair accessible vehicle, so that Steve could attempt to maintain some level of independence. While still in rehab after surgery, one of the organizers of the benefit took a good portion of the funds raised for their own personal use. Although some of the funds were eventually returned in very small increments of $5 and $10 at a time, what was returned took over a year. As a result, Steve had to abandon his original plans of returning to independence and had to give up the hope of self sufficiency.
Despite securing a small loan to cover some of the cost for a wheelchair lift for his vehicle, he is still unable to purchase the proper chair/scooter needed to use that lift and travel about independently. Sadly, the individual responsible for the misuse of the funds in now deceased and the still missing funds can never be recovered.
Due to his prior income from work history, he does not qualify qualify for programs and services designed to assist low-income individuals with disabilities. On paper, Steve has enough money to afford such equipment, but the formulas do not take into account living expenses such as rent, food, his other substantial medical costs that all strain what little fixed income Steve earns. Also, being only 57, he does not qualify for any benefits or services offered to senior citizens.
Any funds raised will be used to purchase the needed medical equipment not covered by insurance, and to help offset the cost of ongoing medical expenses. None of Steve's goals are outrageous or frivolous. He simply wants to recoup the money from the original benefit that was stolen by a now deceased "friend" in order to maintain independence and a quality of life that Steve more than deserves.
In January 2014, friends, family and co-workers organized a benefit to help purchase a power wheelchair and a wheelchair accessible vehicle, so that Steve could attempt to maintain some level of independence. While still in rehab after surgery, one of the organizers of the benefit took a good portion of the funds raised for their own personal use. Although some of the funds were eventually returned in very small increments of $5 and $10 at a time, what was returned took over a year. As a result, Steve had to abandon his original plans of returning to independence and had to give up the hope of self sufficiency.
Despite securing a small loan to cover some of the cost for a wheelchair lift for his vehicle, he is still unable to purchase the proper chair/scooter needed to use that lift and travel about independently. Sadly, the individual responsible for the misuse of the funds in now deceased and the still missing funds can never be recovered.
Due to his prior income from work history, he does not qualify qualify for programs and services designed to assist low-income individuals with disabilities. On paper, Steve has enough money to afford such equipment, but the formulas do not take into account living expenses such as rent, food, his other substantial medical costs that all strain what little fixed income Steve earns. Also, being only 57, he does not qualify for any benefits or services offered to senior citizens.
Any funds raised will be used to purchase the needed medical equipment not covered by insurance, and to help offset the cost of ongoing medical expenses. None of Steve's goals are outrageous or frivolous. He simply wants to recoup the money from the original benefit that was stolen by a now deceased "friend" in order to maintain independence and a quality of life that Steve more than deserves.
Fundraising team: Bucks for Bennett (3)
Matt Adams
Organizer
Warminster Township, PA
Stephen Bennett
Beneficiary
Susan Adams
Team member