Brill Family and Fundraiser Update
In the 2003 Jim Carey movie “Bruce Almighty,” Bruce is given the opportunity to have God’s power to answer prayers. Instead of looking to help others, his first impulse is to make things easier for himself. When confronted by God, played by Morgan Freeman, about how many people he has helped, Bruce answers that he “righted a few wrongs in my own life first…I was going to help the others…” Later God tells Bruce, “People want me to do everything for them, but what they don’t realize is they have the power. You want to see a miracle, son? Be the miracle.”
On June 12, David Brill was working to replace a roof and fell two stories, suffering significant injuries including a traumatic brain injury. A loving husband and father of three boys, David faces months to years of recovery. He must relearn even simple skills he once took for granted. His family faces months to years of medical expenses and lost wages. They needed a miracle to get through the many challenges ahead. They asked God to hear their prayers, and God answered.
On July 21, the Brill Family Spaghetti Dinner at Lancaster Church of the Brethren was a miracle. Planners anticipated anywhere between 50 and 600 people would show up for the dinner. They prepared over 80 pounds of pasta, more than 110 jars of sauce, two freezer chests of garlic bread and over 75 pounds of mixed salad – all donated items. There were more than 60 raffle baskets and items donated ranging from an $800 tree service from Grandview Tree Care, to Phillies tickets, to a large box of Lindt Chocolate. All of the paper products – 600 plates, 200 to-go containers, 1,000 cups – were donated.
In the end, over 800 church members, friends, family, neighbors and many, many strangers came out to volunteer and to support David Brill and his family. It was a very rainy night; the lines for dinner were long, wrapping down the hall to the choir room and all the way back to the heritage center. Volunteers had to make emergency store runs when they ran out of desserts, and then salad, and even pasta and sauce. But the feeling in the Heritage Center and Family Life Center was never one of frustration or haste. People waited patiently for dinner.
Volunteers stayed long past their shifts. Church members showed up and asked what they could do to help.
Over $25,000 was raised in less than three hours. And God was there with us. Every person that came out that night, whether to eat, or work, or a little of both, made the decision to be a miracle for the Brill Family. And like Bruce Almighty, we didn’t need any special powers to make a difference.
We continue to pray for David and his family as his recovery continues and remember Isaiah 40:31, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
If you would still like to donate to the Brills, you can still make a donation through Lancaster CoB, write “Brill Family” on the check memo or envelope. For updates on David’s recovery you can go to: ForDavidBrill.com.