GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The driveway of a home tucked away on the Northeast side of Grand Rapids overflowed Thursday with items both old and new. Cars were parked, but their owners were on the move, all there for the same thing -- a yard sale. A yard sale is held in an effort to raise money for a handicap accessible van for a family in dire need.
Kristen Keys and her sons Tommy and Michael all suffer from muscular dystrophy. But they have no car and no family in town, so it's hard for them to get from point A to point B.
FOX 17 first brought you their story in May. The Key family entered a contest to win a handicap accessible van. They got thousands of votes, but they didn't win.
These days, the family is taking the bus, because they lost their only mode of transportation last year. After months of brainstorming, the Keys are having a community yard sale, hoping to raise enough money to finally purchase their own van.
"It’s very difficult for me to get in and out of any vehicles. We have to take the bus," Kristen Keys said. "It’s getting very difficult to get up the stairs on the Go Bus and get out of the seats on the Go Bus for the boys, so on a bad day it’s just not doable."
So the Keys are ready for a change. That's why Wednesday, about 20 families dropped off items for the Keys' yard sale.
"Someone texted me at midnight and said, Can I drop something off at your sale?" Kristen said. "They’re taking the time to go through their house, pack their car up, drive all the way over here, spend time setting up. It's just beautiful they’re cheering us on in this way."
Strangers and friends dropped off furniture, clothes, household items, even sweets. It's a big sale, filled with even bigger hearts.
"People have reached into their hearts and donated a lot of things," said Lori Hastings, the founder of the non-profit Lori's Voice. The organization works to financially support special needs children, and Hastings said that whatever the Keys make this weekend in the sale, they'll match it, up to $7,000.
In addition, Lori's Voice bought the Keys an automatic door opener, because the family has a hard time getting in and out of their home.
Get the 'Keys' to a van yard sale
If you are interested in heading down to the Keys' yard sale, they live on Bradford Street NE off Fuller Avenue.
The sale will go until late afternoon Friday and again on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1. Everything will be half off on Saturday.
The Keys also have a GoFundMe page.
If you would like to contact Lori's Voice, click here.
