A Waynesboro man is in need of a wheelchair-accessible van. The community is stepping up to help.

Patrick Hite, Staunton News Leader
·2 min read
Rejoicing Life Church is holding a fundraiser to help Steven McCray, who has cerebral palsy, and his mother, Darlene McCray, purchase a wheelchair-accessible van.
Rejoicing Life Church is holding a fundraiser to help Steven McCray, who has cerebral palsy, and his mother, Darlene McCray, purchase a wheelchair-accessible van.

WAYNESBORO — It was almost 20 years ago that the community came together to raise money to help a Waynesboro family buy a wheelchair-accessible van for Steven McCray.

McCray has cerebral palsy. Like anyone, he enjoys getting out of the house, going to church or the park or shopping. He also has a lot of doctor appointments. Without a van, the fun trips don't happen and the doctor appointments are made that much more difficult.

"Last year we were in the hospital more than we were at home," said his mom, Darlene McCray. She can call the rescue squad, but getting home then becomes a problem.

The 20-year-old van broke down before Thanksgiving and it became apparent that the family needed another one. Tammy Johnston, Steven McCray's former teacher, and Mike Lawson, the pastor of Rejoicing Life Church in Stuarts Draft, along with other members of the community have joined forces to raise money to replace the broken down van.

"All I can say is they are heroes," his mom said about those working to raise the money. "There are not words to say how much I really appreciate it and thank everybody."

Johnston said Darlene McCray is amazing, doing all the caregiving for her son, who graduated from Wilson Memorial High School. The van she helped fundraise for in 2004 was a used van at the time. Johnston is impressed with how Darlene kept it running for as long as she did.

Johnston has sent out nearly 200 letters in an effort to raise the money. She is now a retired special education teacher, but she taught for nearly 25 years and was Steven McCray's teacher for 10 of those.

"He's been a citizen in this community his whole life," Johnston said. "He's just the sweetest, happiest, outgoing fellow. He means to world to (his mother) and she means the world to him. Our community came forth 19 years ago for them and it would be great to see that again."

Steven McCray is now 40. He is non-verbal, but he communicates with his eyes, which is the only body part he can control, moving them up or down for yes or no.

"Without the van he gets kind of bored staying in the house all the time," Darlene McCray said. For doctors appointments the mother and son can pay for transportation with Medicaid.

Those wishing to donate can make checks payable to Rejoicing Life Church/ Attn: Steven’s Van, P.O. Box 1142 Stuarts Draft, VA 24477. For more information, contact Mike Lawson by phone at (540) 337-2447 or email at office@rejoicinglifechurch.com.

"I'm just so grateful," Darlene McCray said. "And I thank God for providing people who care. It's a miracle the way the community has helped us."

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— Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Waynesoro man with cerebral palsy is in need of a van. The community is stepping up.