NORTH CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- 15-year-old Ivone Garibay and her family got a big surprise from members of the North Chicago Police and Fire Department at her home in North Chicago Saturday morning that will make a positive difference in their everyday lives.
The North Chicago City Hall and community partners present a wheelchair accessible vehicle to a deserving family....
Posted by North Chicago Police Department on Saturday, June 27, 2020
The event brought family, friends and some media to witness the van delivery.
"Ivone is able to attend school; however, transportation has been a challenge for the family," said Jim Moran, interim community information coordinator with the City of North Chicago.
Detective Alex Flores, a 19-year veteran of the North Chicago Police Department who was instrumental in organizing the fundraiser, said her grandparents have been taking care of Garibay and her two younger siblings since their mother’s passing last year. Using a wobbly wheelchair ramp to enter the home often left the grandmother with heavy lifting, making it difficult to get to medical appointments.
The new van will help Garibay get to doctor appointments and make life easier for her grandparents.
"All these people contributed; they did everything they could to try to (help) Ivone," Flores said.
Moran said the kind gesture will make a big difference for the family.
"A handicap accessible vehicle not only will improve the quality of life for Ivone, but also tremendously help her grandparents," he said.
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