When bad things happen to good people, good community members often leap at the chance to make a horrible situation better.
Recently, lawn maintenance equipment was stolen from Bimbo Chapman, a Lindside man who takes pride in his yard work.
Via the Facebook page, Monroe County WV News, group members, administrators and moderators reached out to one another to help right this wrong against a much-loved resident. A collection drive began through a gofundme account, and there are ongoing discussions around bake sales, collection jars and bank accounts.
With permission from Chapman’s family, Katlin Wetterman, a moderator for Monroe County WV News, organized the fundraising account with the challenge, “Some low life stole Bimbo’s mower and wagon! Bimbo uses these to make a living. If you’ve gone through Lindside you’ve seen his smiling face and joyful waving! Bimbo is the sweetest person and does nothing [bad] to anyone! If you can, let’s help him replace his equipment as a community.”
Challenge excepted. Within 13 hours of creation, “The Help Bimbo replace his stolen equipment!” gofundme page had blown the original goal of $400 out of the water and reached $1,700 and climbing.
“We hope to get the mower, weed eater, riding mower and a wagon to start with for large and small jobs,” Sommer Graham, an administrator for Monroe County WV News, told The West Virginia Daily News. “Bimbo had mowed yards for free as well as donations and this would help with larger yards. Anything extra we raise we hope to rent a secure storage unit to store them in so no one can take his stuff again. Bimbo is deaf and mute but can find a way to smile and communicate and has a heart of gold. This man is someone everyone looks forward to driving by and seeing.”
Visit the Monroe County WV News Facebook page for the ever-growing ways to help Bimbo replace his equipment and beyond.
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