Martinez Family Vehicle Fund

Goal:

 USD $50,000

Raised:

 USD $6,145

Campaign created by Sallie Peila

Campaign funds will be received by Michelle Martinez

Martinez Family Vehicle Fund

The Martinez family currently has no way to safely transport their family of seven, which includes Anthony, a special needs child in a wheelchair who requires frequent medical visits to Boise. A recent non-injury car accident totaled one of the vehicles they used for transportation. A large van with a wheelchair lift would benefit the whole family so they can safely travel together in one vehicle.

Here is the remarkable story of Anthony.

Hector and Michelle Martinez welcomed their fourth child, Anthony, six weeks early on January 31, 2017. After several days in the NICU, he was diagnosed with lissencephaly, with a prognosis of never talking, walking or developing. When he was three days old, his mom was finally able to hold him. Alarms started going off indicating his oxygen saturation were going up...great news! This pattern continued to repeat itself when his parents could hold him. At ten days old, a feeding tube was surgically placed, and it was determined no other medical intervention was possible. It seemed the only medicine that Anthony responded to was the loving embrace of his parents. After only two weeks in the NICU, the family took Anthony home so they could hold him and love him all hours of the day. Since then he has known setbacks, seasons of pain, surgeries and hospitalizations, but he is astonishingly resilient. Today, he is a healthy seven-year-old boy, who loves to laugh, play, race in his wheelchair, press his switch to activate recorded messages, and most recently he learned to lift his head up. It is true that he cannot walk or talk, but he can love and share God’s grace in ways that surpass the rest of us.

The Martinez family have become familiar with the trials that come with raising a medically fragile child, but their most recent trial was far different; a car wreck on November 15th. Although the vehicle is beyond repair, thankfully, Hector and Xavier were both okay. However, the loss of a vehicle shed light on a bigger need. In order for Anthony to be transported safely in his wheelchair, the family needs a van with a wheelchair lift and enough seats for the other six family members to travel with him.

The Martinez Family are active parish members of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Burns. They serve through both the Maidens and Squires of the Altar, all-night Adoration and help out with odd jobs around the rectory and parish hall. Anthony serves in a different way. His capacity to give and receive love, eagerness to laugh and smile, and ability to draw others to Jesus is a tremendous blessing.

We hope Anthony will inspire you to love well, and we urge you to pray that every child will be welcomed and treasured as a gift from God.

Neighbors, friends and fellow parishioners would like to help the family meet their need for a wheelchair accessible van. We are starting a fundraising campaign to help with the purchase of a vehicle. A special donation account has been set up at SELCO Community Credit Union in Burns, Oregon. Fellow parishioners will be holding a Family Fun Carnival and Pancake Supper at the Parish Hall on January 1, 2025 to help raise funds. Thank you for considering a donation to this fund.


Recent Donations
Show:
Anonymous Giver
$ 50.00 USD
19 days ago

Peace and blessings from passers by

Lori Buchman
$ 100.00 USD
21 days ago

Josh Bruce
$ 100.00 USD
1 month ago

Loren Kathy Townley fam
$ 500.00 USD
1 month ago

James Jenson
$ 50.00 USD
1 month ago

Evelyn Zurfluh
$ 100.00 USD
1 month ago

A gift to a wonderful, loving family.

Anonymous Giver
$ 25.00 USD
1 month ago

Dear Hector and Michelle, Thank you’ Love you tons, Nancy

The Calvin Family
$ 200.00 USD
1 month ago

We love the Martinez family so much! Each one of them blessed us so much, and it is such an honor to give back to them - even just a little.

Anonymous Giver
$ 25.00 USD
1 month ago

Anonymous Giver
$ 150.00 USD
1 month ago

We love the Martinez family! They have been such a blessing in our life!

Anonymous Giver
$ 400.00 USD
1 month ago

Anonymous Giver
$ 50.00 USD
1 month ago

Michelle, I will continue to pray for you and your family. God is faithful and we can trust Him to provide for our needs, just as our need for salvation was met through Jesus Christ. Sincerely, Tina Branton (Kathryn’s mom).

Anonymous Giver
$ 1000.00 USD
1 month ago

Anonymous Giver
$ 100.00 USD
1 month ago

Anonymous Giver
$ 50.00 USD
1 month ago

Profe Jill Gibian
$ 25.00 USD
1 month ago

!Que bonita familia! Les deseo todo lo mejor.

Torivio Gallegos
$ 100.00 USD
1 month ago

Anonymous Giver
$ 40.00 USD
1 month ago

Blessings to your family.

Anonymous Giver
$ 250.00 USD
1 month ago

Kirk and Lindsay Davies
$ 500.00 USD
1 month ago

Updates

Update #3

January 26th, 2025

For an update on the financial side, the family borrowed $7000 to purchase the van; the rest was financed by all the generous donations and fundraisers. The wheelchair lift is the next step, but getting this purchase made is a huge accomplishment! Michelle told me that this didn't seem possible just a few months ago.

I would like to add my thanks to all the warm-hearted people who have given time, silent auction items, donations, baked goods, etc for this cause. Please remember we still have a gun raffle going on, too. Tickets can be purchased at Burns Dental Group, Mountain Sage Medical and The Crane Store and Cafe. The drawing will be held on March 15.

Thanks!

Sallie

Update #2 Exciting News from Michelle!

January 26th, 2025

We have some wonderful news to share! We were able to purchase a Ford Transit van on Friday. It has a medium roof and seats 12 passengers. It is large enough to accommodate a wheelchair lift and still have enough seats for our family once the seats are taken out for the lift. We have made progress on locating a company that can install a lift in the van. Although the van is not ready for Anthony to travel in yet, we are so thankful that we have made it this far in the process. We will keep you posted on this endeavour.

We are deeply grateful for all the love shown to our family in this fundraising effort! Each and every prayer, encouraging conversation, and kind words written in notes have blessed us. We also want to thank all of you for contributing to our fundraiser with your time, talent and treasure in order to hold the Carnival and Dinner Event on New Year's Day.

God Bless,

Hector, Michelle, Xavier, Addilyn, Timothy, Anthony and Josiah Martinez

Update Update #2 Exciting News from Michelle! Image
Update #1

November 27th, 2024

We had to add an image of this sweet, happy boy!

Update Update #1 Image

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