1948 Ford 8N Raffle

Benefits Holy Angels Home for Disabled Kids

Draws 04/26/09

Raffle Details

Holy Angels is a remarkable place and the story of its beginning is remarkable as well. It is the story of Maria. Doctors did not expect the baby girl to live long beyond her December 20, 1955, birth. She was born medically fragile, with multiple disabilities. If she lived, the doctors said, the baby would have serious medical problems, severe mental retardation and physical disabilities.

Her young mother sought help from the Sisters of Mercy who operated a day care center under the direction of Sister Marie Patrice Manley. On a cold January in 1956, the young mother, a worker in one of the textile mills in Belmont, began to bring her fragile child to Sr. Patrice. When the baby became seriously ill, the mother asked the sisters to care for her child.

Each sister took turns caring for the infant who was named, Maria. She began to thrive with their attention and lots of medical care. She grew and developed far better than expected as you can see from the photo of Maria with Mother MaryBenignus Hoban, who co-founded Holy Angels, at left. Soon, other parents of children with multiple disabilities and mental retardation asked the Sisters of Mercy for help. The sisters realized that there was truly a need for a home that offered loving compassionate care for children with special needs. Always willing to answer God’s call, the Sisters set up a home, which eventually became Holy Angels. Mother Benignus, affectionately called Mother B, called the children who came to live there, “God’s innocents.” Mother B served as president of Holy Angels until 1997. She died on December 30, 2000 at the age of 94. (read more on their site…link below).

Raffle Tractor

1948 Ford 8N. Nicely restored tractor, completely overhauled motor, hydraulics, brakes and has new sheetmetal front to back. New tires on the front and rear. This is a really nice tractor. Runs great!

Raffle Tickets and Contact Info

Proceeds to benefit the Holy Angels Home for severely handicapped children in Belmont, NC. Winner has choice of this tractor or $3000.00. Drawing will take place April 26, 2009 at the Rusty Pistons Tractor Show in Monroe, NC. $1.00 per ticket or 6 tickets for $5.00. To learn more about the raffle visit the website at JohnDeere40.com. Also, to read more about the Holy Angel Home visit their site at HolyAngelsHomeNC.org. Thanks!