“And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:13
The emergence of COVID-19 brought so many challenges to our world. Just a few months ago, store shelves were empty. People began to stock up on necessary items. Even now, some six months later, it is still hard to find some products. In addition to Clorox Wipes, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer, many people found it difficult to find the food items they so easily were able to get before.
The shortage of some food supplies was especially difficult on those with special needs. Crystal MacDonald was one of those parents who experienced a hard time finding the specific food she needed. Crystal’s daughter, Ashlyn, has severe, non-verbal autism. Ashlyn has very specific taste in foods. She only eats SpaghettiOs with Meatballs. Before the arrival of COVID-19, this was something Crystal could manage, but when the stores had difficult times re-stocking their shelves, Ashlyn and Crystal really struggled.
A local newspaper did a story on Crystal and Ashlyn and how the pandemic was affecting them. It was not long after the article ran in her local paper that Crystal began receiving help from her community. She would receive messages when there were sightings of the SpaghettiOs in stores. Often, people would buy as many as they could and just bring it to their home. When asked about the response by the community, Crystal said, “It can be a lonely experience to be a parent of a special needs child. It has been an incredible experience to feel so much love from our community.”
The Today Show heard about the community support that Crystal and Ashlyn were receiving and they decided to do a feature story, so the country could see the kindness being shown in their town of Attleboro, Massachusetts. The story was so inspirational that when the people at the Campbell’s Soup Company heard, they were inspired to give Ashlyn a one-year supply of her favorite SpaghettiOs.
Crystal and Ashlyn were struggling with the challenges brought about by COVID-19. Their joy was restored by the kindness of a community that reached out in their time of need. Many of the people who offered their support did not know Crystal or Ashlyn, but they knew they could help. Small acts of kindness, like buying a can of SpaghettiOs, can help in a big way. Take a moment today and help a neighbor. One small act of kindness just may be a great blessing and help others far more than you can imagine.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
