Friends and family of Alaina Derecola of Boyertown gathered on the sidewalk in front of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church to celebrate her new van. The van was purchased with money donated by friends, family and strangers.
During the Sunday liturgy at St. John’s Good Shepherd UCC pastor, Rev. Kimberly Berenotto, said “Alaina gave us the opportunity to work together and grow together in Christ.” Good Shepherd shares the parking lot with St. John’s. She praised the Boyertown community for coming together to help Alaina. “Christ asks us to help those in need, and this time we did it.”
Rev. Bob Machamer, pastor of St. John’s, also praised Alaina and her family for “helping us to be the people of God.” He said: “What we did for Alaina falls short of what Alaina did for us.” He explained that as Christians we are first to love God with all our heart and soul and then love your neighbor as yourself. In working to raise the money for the van, the community came together to do just that.
During the service, Alaina was seated in the church surrounded by her family and repeatedly said, softly, “Bless you.”
Alaina, the daughter of Chris and LeAnn Derecola, has several health issues and is confined to a wheelchair. Her conditions require weekly trips to Philadelphia. When the family’s old van deteriorated to the point where it wouldn’t pass inspection, Anne Benfield, family friend and her school bus driver, started a GoFundMe account to raise money for a new van. The community learned about the need and rallied to help raise the necessary funds.
