ATHENS, Alabama — The Athens community took initiative to spread a little extra love and care by donating a special gift! Some community members were made aware of a local amputee struggling to go about daily activities in his standard wheelchair. So the community wanted to help, and as a result they held a celebration to present him with a brand new electric wheelchair to make life a little easier.
Athens resident Laverne Gilbert said, "I seen this young man going up and down the hill, and as I was taking my uncle to the doctor, I started talking to God. I asked God to please, if it's your will, for me to get this man a wheelchair."
Gilbert called her friend and her classmate.
"He say, I'll give you some money on it, and I started spreading the word on what God had me doing. Guess what? That wheelchair is paid in full. that's nobody but God."
Electric wheelchair recipient Richard Long said he could not be any happier after receiving such an outpouring of love and support from the community. "This day means good to me. You know, I never had one of these before."
For community members like Geneva Benford, Long is a hero, and that is why the community teamed up to make this happen. "This young man is a servant of God... He would ride his bicycle to the church and park, come in and play the drums."
Long added that he is just thankful to be a light. "You know, I get around and do what I got to do, you know? Praise the Lord about that. Thank Jesus for that. It means a whole lot to see everybody here, my family, and everybody, you know, it makes my day."