In 2009, Bert's Big Adventure chose the Starks to go to Walt Disney World with us. There family was easy to choose as the Starks had adopted and were raising six special needs children. It was the biggest family that had ever joined us in Orlando.
Will and Cheryl Stark were married for 34 years. They adopted and have been raising six special needs children for twenty years. They are a selfless family. Years ago when I asked him why six special needs children he humbly said, "Cheryl and I just felt it was our calling. It's never been a hassle. It's never been troublesome. This is our family. We love them all. And this is our calling."
Two weeks ago, Cheryl passed away from a sudden stroke. These are parts of his emails after she passed:
"My wife Cheryl has passed away from a stroke today. I would explain more but I can't stop crying. I am heading back home and Cheryl will follow soon. Thank you to all who were and still are praying for her and us. God is good and her leaving was very peaceful. So many have stepped in and made sure the kids routine at home was disrupted as little as possible. The food and support has been overwhelming. The impact was instant and will be long lasting. Life will be sooo different."
Will is now raising the six children himself. He is the kind of man that would NEVER ask for help. I had to beg him to allow The Bert Show community to help him.
But here's the truth. He lost his job a year and a half ago. So, money is scarce. Really scarce. Example? He told me that he hasn't had electricity in his master bedroom for over a year. He uses an extension chord to run the alarm clock in his room. He's overwhelmed thinking about how he's going to clothe, feed, transport and buy school supplies for his children over the next few weeks. When I asked him to put together a dream list of needs he said to me, "Our lifestyle has never allowed us to dream of things like this. I don't know where to start."
His list of needs is no dream list. It's truly a need list: batteries, clothes, School supplies, bed linens, tennis shoes, kitchen supplies, and so much more. This is where your money is going.
And this is who your money is going to. From another email: "Every month Cheryl had me fill a cooler and a larger tote with food to take to families in Taccoa who had nothing. I would always say "you do know I don't have a job" and she would say "yea but you have me". She would come back telling me how blessed we were to have so much. I will continue in her spirit but She was a special person that has left a void."Thank you for your help. Any donation will allow Will and the Starks just a little bit of comfort and security in their future.
Video about the family: http://bcove.me/aywaf6tq
Read more about their story here: http://thebertshow.c...m-cheryl-stark/
