There is nothing more touching than seeing a person who is struggling receive the help they deserve. For Christmas in 2020, a very deserving family, the Ashleys, had their prayers answered when an anonymous Secret Santa teamed up with the East Idaho News crew to give them $10,000 in furniture and a brand new 15-passenger van.
Be sure to reach the end of this article to see the full video
Misty and Ben Ashley are parents to 12 children, ages 1 to 17, many of whom are adopted and living with special needs. On top of raising their kids, both parents work multiple jobs to provide and care for their family. Misty works nights and doesn’t arrive home until 1 a.m., while Ben wakes up at 4 a.m. for work and doesn’t return until late in the evening. Misty said about Ben, “He works his butt off all the time … he is always working.” Both of these parents work so hard to support their large and loving family.
In the footage provided by the news team, the newscaster said, “They are the best parents according to everyone we have talked to.” You can see the father, Ben, crying throughout the video. Apparently, there was no way for everyone to travel together in one vehicle — until this wonderful gift.
During the gift unveiling, the whole family went outside in the snow without jackets to see the huge new van. At that point, both parents were sobbing and the family rushed to get in and see the van. As they were crying, you could hear both parents state, “Oh my gosh, thank you so much.”
Be sure to reach the end of this article to see the full video
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The kids seemed happy and thrilled about the new van, as they all climbed into the back seats with smiles on their faces. On the way back inside the house, one of the kids called out: “Hey dad! Let’s take that one (pointing to the old van) back to the junkyard!” Everyone laughed in agreement and was joyful about the new replacement van, which would surely make their lives easier. The Ashley family seems like a fun and lighthearted group of people.
The gift card to Ashley Home Furniture was to buy new couches and beds to ensure everyone had a place to sleep in their home. The new van replaced an older one that was found in a junkyard and had been broken down in the Ashley family’s driveway for a few months. The anonymous donor who contacted East Idaho News had given over $500,000 in gifts to struggling families.
The Ashleys stand out as a large family in a time when fewer and fewer children are being born every year, especially when considering the average household has less than three people according to the 2020 US Census. Ben and Misty are not afraid to go against the status quo and make great sacrifices to raise an incredible family.
According to the Special Needs Alliance, there are up to 134,000 children with special needs waiting to find their permanent homes. The Ashley family is working together to make positive changes in the lives of struggling children. They are filling a serious need and are well-deserving of this generosity.
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