Above: A Southborough family is pursuing a service dog for their teenage son with Autism. You can support the effort at a car wash this weekend and/or a donation to the cause. (images from fundraising site)
Finger’s crossed for nice weather this weekend. There’s another car wash coming up at the Transfer Station, and it’s for a good cause.
A Southborough family is working to raise $25,000 to get a service dog for their son. The car wash this Saturday is another step in that direction.
JayJay Arroro is a teenage boy with Autism. Here is why his family believes a service dog is needed:
Having a service dog would be able to support and gro Jay in ways we are not able to. This dog would go to school with him (where we do not go) keep him safe from simple things of crossing a road. A service dog would help with Jay’s “tuff” days he may have. It has been proven that a service dog can help support with language and speech. Having a service dog will be the final piece of the puzzle to support Jay on his path to adulthood.
A flyer lists the benefits:
- Improved language
- Calming during family outings
- Independence at school and home
- Safety
- Interrupt repetitive behaviors that can interfere with his chance at learning
- Calm overstimulation
The fundraiser will take place from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, this Saturday, June 29th at the Southborough Transfer Station, 147 Cordaville Road. Come on out and get your car washed to help JayJay.
If you can’t participate in the event, you can still support the cause.
A fundraising page has been setup to help meet their goal. It shares their emotional journey from learning that their toddler had autism to where they are now. Some highlights:
“Autism”? What is that? Where do I go? Who can help him? So many things run through your mind to help “fix” them. However when you stop for a second and slow down, you realize there is nothing to “fix”. This is who they are and your job number one job is to try and help, support, and guide them along the way. You learn to appreciate the “little” things in life. . .
They described how they faced challenges by setting and working towards a single goal, meeting it and setting the next one:
This is how we approach everything that we find to be a hurdle. Jayson has shown time and time again that anything be overcome with hard work!
Jayson is now 16 years old and continues to impress us on a daily basis. All those hopes and dreams you had before can still exist, just in a way you never thought was possible!
The non-profit SDWR (Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers) is helping the family achieve this next goal. The fundraiser donates money to SDWR with funds earmarked for JayJay’s dog. The organization states:
Each type of service dog is hand raised by SDWR staff and volunteers to mold it into a life-saving tool for each of our families in need. We promote a high level of interaction between the dog, the recipient family and our training staff to create an environment of success. Unlike other service dog programs, SDWR takes the next step in providing a solid base between a service dog and the recipient.
Your donation goes to the placement and growth of more life-saving service dogs.
SDWR is a fully incorporated 501(c)3 non-profit organization and most all donations are tax deductible. . . Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers helps families find local resources to help offset the costs associated with the training of a service dog. All donations go to the placement of service dogs and the needs of our mission.
To learn more or make a contribution, click here. Checks can also be made out to SWDR with the memo “In honor of the Arroyo family”. And a QR code is included on the image above right.
Updated (6/28/19 9:21 am): I know the forecast for Saturday is troubling. But organizers clearly are keeping their fingers crossed. They asked me to let the public know that they plan to go forward with the car wash this Saturday. If that changes, they promise to let me know.
