Fareway told NIT that five-year-old Devyn (pictured at top with others) has special needs. As Devyn grows, she is too heavy for her mom to carry, and her current stroller does not provide the safety she needs. Devyn and her family have had to avoid large community events due to concerns with her eloping from her family, or suddenly refusing to walk. Having this stroller will allow Devyn and her family to be out in their community more often, which will help Devyn grow in her social skills and interactions. This stroller will also provide a safe and secure way for her family to run errands, like shopping at Fareway.
Specialized strollers like this one are tailored specifically for each child, are not typically covered by insurance, and can range in cost from $1,000 to $10,000. Thanks to Fareway and their generous customers, Variety is able to provide these life-changing strollers and other mobility equipment to children at no cost to their families.
Variety and Fareway presented the custom-designed adaptive stroller to five-year-old Devyn on Saturday, December 7, 2024.
This stroller donation is possible thanks to contributions made by Clear Lake Fareway’s customers during the annual Round Up at the Register campaign held each summer. The Clear Lake store was the third highest fundraising store in the company. Customers had the opportunity to round up to the next dollar or provide an additional donation on their grocery bill to help fund Variety’s mission.
Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa is dedicated to improving the lives of children who are at risk, underprivileged, critically ill, or living with special needs. Since the inception of the Telethon in 1975, Variety has raised more than $140 million to support children in need throughout the state. Variety is making a better future for our community by connecting people who care to programs that enable children to reach their full potential. For more information on how you can be a part of our work, please visit VarietyIowa.com.