York Town News
Help the Durkin family with community May basket donation
By Melissa Wood
YORK - When friends asked Mike Durkin if he would accept a May basket of gift cards for restaurants, coffee, gas and services as his son Jason's fight against the disease aplastic anemia continues, he agreed because the donations could be easily transferred to support someone else."He said, 'I like it because if there's too much for us we can pass it on to another family in need,'" said family friend Dwyer Vessey.
That generosity is reflected in the people in the York community who first organized a bone marrow drive for Jason on Jan. 10, at which more than 500 people were screened as potential matches, and now are putting together a basket of gift card donations for the family.
Although the drive did not find a bone marrow match, one was found in Europe and the York High School senior had his long-awaited transplant on Friday, March 30.
"He's doing well," said Vessey, whose husband, Michael Vessey, is Jason's hockey coach. "But it's going to be a long haul."
The May basket is a way to help coordinate all the efforts of people who want to help the Durkins as they face the next step in Jason's recovery from the life-threatening disease, which will include many trips back to Boston after he is released from Children's Hospital for follow-up treatment.
At a recent meeting, friends, community members and teens Jason's age and the age of his younger sister, Lauren, 11, brainstormed ideas to help their friends. Suggestions included coffee cards from Bagel Basket, gas cards to travel back and forth to Children's Hospital, pizza cards for the family, entertainment tickets and a night out for parents Sharon and Mike - as well as golf passes for Mike, and hopefully Jason.
Vessey said gift cards are also welcome for the Boston area, including passes for the city's subway system and restaurants in Boston, as well as activities such as the New England Aquarium and the Boston Museum of Science.
"Parking is really expensive," said Vessey.
Gift cards don't all need to come from businesses, however. Friends can also help the Durkins by donating services such as dog walking or helping out around the house. For example, Billy Olson, owner of York Lawn and Garden, has agreed to do their spring cleaning.
And as Jason completes his senior year of high school this spring, Dwyer said they would like to find a way for him to be a part of important milestones that he won't be able to attend in person, such as graduation and the prom. She said they are wondering whether those events can be video streamed and would like to hear from anybody who could help make that a reality.
The cards will give the family the freedom to choose when they'd like to be able to receive help instead of being overwhelmed with people calling who want to help them.
Vessey said so far in getting the word out about the May basket the response has been overwhelming.
"I literally can't get the words out before it's happening," she said.
For example, Vessey said when she called From the Heart gift baskets, owner Catherine Bosbach said she would do the basket before Vessey could even ask.
All the gift cards will be gathered into a basket and presented to the Durkin family the first week of May. Vessey said the group is trying to coordinate this effort as much as possible so there aren't duplications, but gift cards donated individually are welcome as well.
Gift cards for the Durkins may be sent to May Basket, c/o Dwyer Vessey, 45 Boban St., York, ME 03909.
Vessey is also designing a gift card form that can be filled out by someone who wishes to donate a service to the family. For more information, contact Vessey at 603-205-8995 or by email at dvessey@maine.rr.com.
