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Page A-28 — Shelton-Mason County Journal Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020
Compassionate mechanic Offers aid
33} Isabella Breda
lsabe/la@masoncounty com
The community has kept him in business for 23
years and now, Local Wrench owner Jeff Baker is
taking care of those in need.
“We are paying our bills and able to take care
of other things in life,” Baker said, “we thought we
should try to give a helping hand to people suffering
in the best way we know, doing What we do best.”
Local Wrench offered six free oil changes to com-
munity members financially affected by the COV-
ID-19 pandemic. ’
, Messages of need rolled into Baker’s inbox soon
after the announcement on social media.
“This person said, the last thing I need is my car
quitting out on me,” Baker said, while reading mes-
sages.
“Another fella has been displaced from his job
and is unable to service his vehicle. He said he has
a job interview next week that will require com-
muting if he gets the job. Someone else said they’d
love to have an oil change — with an (outstanding)
electricity bill and nothing left for food.”
While many community members are in need,
some are equally eager to help. _
One donor, who wanted to remain anonymous,
paid for three more services, while another commu-
nity member came in the shop to drop off enough
for half of the cost of a service.
If donations continue to come in, Local Wrench
will continue to slot out time for drivers in need.
“Without basically putting up a sign saying free,
we are just going to see if there’s anyone else in
need,” Baker said. “I don’t know how long the long-
term effect is going to be and how much impact will
remain on people over time but it’s definitely some-
thing that we be keeping an eye on.” '
School district gia
Local Wrench owner Jeff Baker, left, with employee Jason Rees, is offering
free oil changes to
people financially affected by COVlD-19. Hera/d photo by Gordon Weeks
Baker said he understands what it’s like to be
in a position where you can’t consider expenses be-
yond putting food on the table and filling your car
with enough gas to get to work.
“I didn’t come from a wealthy family. I started
this business with a very low budget I maxed out
Ey’l’s’abella areda
my credit cards and took all of the equity out of my
house,” Baker said, “so I empathize with people in
those situations Where sometimes you’re only fo-
cusing on what’s in front of you, and other things
tend to get neglected, other maintenance and up-
keep on your car.” '
nt finds allies in battle
that’s what’s keeping him going,” she said,
isabe/Ia@masoncounty com
North Mason School District’s warehouse.
manager Vince Lee has touched the lives of
hundreds of staff members, teachers and
students over (the past 13 years. I
“I’m just one of many who really care
about him,” Student Data Coordinator San—
dy Ruthruff said, “he’s such a good guy
he’d do anything for anybody — with a little
sarcasm which makes him fun to be around.”
Lee was diagnosed with Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known
as Lou Gehrig’s disease, last September
,but many of his close friends and coworkers
didn’t know until a GoFundMe for a golf cart
appeared last week.
“Well, I didn’t really put it out there just
because, you know, Vince is a proud man,”
his wife, Susan, admitted.
ALS is a neurodegenerative disease in
which a person’s brain loses connection
with their muscles, causing extreme muscle
weakness and eventually paralysis.
“I never knew anybody with ALS-until
now,” Ruthruff said, “it’s a horrible disease.”
The $2,500 fundraiser to purchase a golf
cart to help Lee maneuver around his yard
Was completely funded just days after being
posted.
“Everyone loves him,” Susan Lee said,
“they love his personality, his smartalec
sense of humor and yeah.”
Vince Lee has always loved working with
his hands, starting at the Puget Sound Na-
val Shipyard in Bremerton before going to
Central Kitsap School District and finally
North Mason.
. In his free time he tends to a huge, beauti-
fully manicured garden, Ruthruff said.
“He loves his yard, loves the outdoors
. asses tat
,, g:
“it is just the joy.”
Because Vince’s right leg is becoming too
weak to operate the golf cart, the family is
using the GoFundMe to retrofit the cart so
he can drive with his hands.
“Our yard is beautiful and he still works
out there to the best of his abilities to this
day,” Susan Lee said, “that’s his passion.”
Susan Lee said she hopes that same com-
munity support and energy that allowed the
family to purchase a golf cart can be chan-
neled toward contributing to the ALS Asso-
ciation Evergreen Chapter, which has been a
“huge help” to the Lee family.
“They have support groups and access to
medical things like wheelchairs, tablets to
work on — whatever you need,” Susan Lee
said, “they’ll work their hardest to get it for
you and they do it quickly. So if anything, I’d
ask people to donate to the ALS Evergreen
Chapter.”
Susan said Vince’s condition has been
_worsening rapidly, he has lost his ability
to speak and communicates with his family
and friends using a tablet. '
“We’ve just been taking it day by day,”
Susan Lee said, “we’ve been staying positive
and hoping for the best.”
Susan and their daughter, Alex, also work
for the school district, as a bus driver and
activity assistant, respectively.
Though Susan and Alex Lee were laid
off as a result of the districts’ remote start,
the district has allowed Vince to work from
home. ,
“People are being so supportive at the
school district,” Susan Lee said, “it’s just
hard to believe that so many people have
him in their thoughts.”
The ALS Evergreen Chapter can be found
online at webwa.alsa.org. ‘
North Mason School District warehouse manager Vince Lee
was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), com-
monly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in September. Courtesy
photo
Susan Lee, Vince Lee’s wife