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Locals to aid family struggling with life changing event

Date: 2/24/2009

By Ashlene Ferris

Staff Intern



SPRINGFIELD -- For Dale Smyth the hardest part about being a mother is watching her 19-year-old son Sam struggle with his day-to-day life as a paraplegic. Since her son's injury on their family dairy farm last October, she has spent the past four months ignoring the steady stream of costly insurance bills, instead caring only for Sam.

In an effort to aid the family with their ongoing medical expenses and the renovation of their home to accommodate Sam's needs, the Springfield Farmers' Market will be hosting a fundraiser on March 8 at the Trinity Church.

During an interview with Reminder Publications Dale said she was overwhelmed by the support and encouragement from those in the area.

"The Springfield Farmers' Market amazes me," she said. "People just keep buying our products and our store sales have gone up 25 percent -- we needed that encouragement."

Belle Rita Novak, manager of the Farmers' Market and organizer of the Smyth Family Fundraiser, said, "When Sam was injured the only thing we could do as non-family members was to go forward and make things easier for the Smyth family."

Novak said running the farmers' market allows her to get to know the vendors very well, forming an attachment with their families.

Novak is hoping to fill the space at Trinity Church to its capacity of 200 people. She noted that donations have already been coming in.

"I'm an optimistic person. I believe that there are more good people than bad," Novak said. "This fundraiser allows people to come to forefront to show goodness in a tangible way."

Dale said they are slowly adapting to life without Sam working on the farm. She explained that she has been forced to find alternative help to complete the day-to-day activites as well as aid Sam in his transition from a college student at the University of Connecticut (UConn) to life at home.

"Sam is an incredible guy. Even at his young age no one could do his job [at the farm] better," Dale explained. "He's simple and humble; all he ever wanted was to help his family and now he's working on catching up and accepting his everyday life. We're not there yet but we're going to get there."

She said Sam intends to return to UConn and complete his degree in farm management in the future.

Novak noted that coincidentally, the fundraiser will take place on March 8, the first day of daylight savings.

"First day of daylight savings and things are getting brighter, the days are getting longer, and there's light at the end of the tunnel for the Smyth family," she said.

The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. and will include dinner and live music.

Donations can be sent to Novak at 112 Manchester Terrace, Springfield, MA 01108.