Pocono News Section

Benefit To Help Columbia County Woman

Benefit To Help Columbia County Woman - Monday, July 21, 2008 at 10:37PM EST

Reported by: Jill Konopka
Monday, Jul 21, 2008 @ 10:37pm EST
(Bloomsburg, Columbia County) - Mikki Anselmo told Eyewitness News, “We want to raise enough to get her a van actually, so she can drive her kids to and from places." A horrible accident severely injured a Columbia County woman.

Now her family and friends gathered to lend a helping hand. 25-year-old Nurse Melissa Wilson has endured a lot in the last year. An accident, hospital stays and recovery.

Tonight her friends are working to get her back on the road. Melissa Wilson is trying to get back to normal after a horrific car crash last year.

Now she needs a very expensive wheelchair van with special hand controls. Tonight her family, friends and lots of people she doesn't even know came out to help her drive again. Flame throwers spark some action from the tail pipes of two classic cars in Bloomsburg.

It's all part of a benefit fundraiser at the Quaker Stake and Lube Restaurant for this busy single Mother of Three, Melissa Wilson. Mikki Anselmo is the benefit organizer, "Melissa means the world to me. I've seen how far she's come and I want to see her go farther. People said she wouldn't make it this far. I knew all along she would." Mikki Anselmo met Wilson one year ago at the scene of a violent car crash.

The off duty Firefighter/E. M.T found Melissa lying on the road, after she crashed and rolled her SUV. All three of her kids were with her.

Melissa's now paralyzed from the chest down. Melissa Wilson told Eyewitness News, "I would love to get my life back to normal, as much as possible and to do that I want to drive. I want to pick my daughter up from school and take my kids to events without having to rely on a ride."

Anselmo organized the benefit, including a raffle, 50-50 and 10-percent in food sales going toward a $30,000.00 wheelchair van for Melissa Wilson. Mikki Anselmo added, "I'd like to raise at least half tonight, if not we'll pick it up and do it again." Dozens donated and dined in to help raise the much needed money. Steve Reich is from Sunbury, "My daughter and her fiancé are firefighters.

They know the E. M.T. who responded, they all stick together as firefighters." Others came too, including this business owner, who until today never even met Melissa. Derk Reed is a local business owner, "It's a good thing for the community, cuz’ people like to come out and help out for a good cause."

Melissa Wilson was overwhelmed all the support, "It's heartwarming, being a nurse, I was always used to giving. Now I have all these people standing by me." We're pleased to report tonight, the raffle and 50-50 totals tallied about $600.00 dollars.

It’ll take some time before we know the restaurant totals, but Mikki Anselmo is prepared to continue hosting fundraisers until they reach their goal of between $20,000.00 and $30,000.00 dollars. If you’d like to help out, you can e-mail Mikki Anselmo at albrelmo@aol. com