Community Rallies Around Clinton 911 Dispatcher in Need of New Handicap-Accessible Van

CLINTON, CT — The community is rallying around a Clinton 911 dispatcher, trying to help him get a new handicap-accessible van to ensure he can continue to get to work.

David McDonald, known to his friends as DMAC, was seriously injured in a car accident in 1983 that resulted in him being a quadriplegic, according to a GoFundMe page that was launched by fellow dispatcher Tasos Clados.

Clados created the page last October, saying in the post that he would “hate to lose my desk partner because he had no way to get to work.”

Clados wrote that McDonald needs help because the 1993 Ford van that he currently drives, which has a lift and special controls, has “now been called a ‘death trap’ by his mechanic.”

“David, being on a very limited budget is in a bind,” Clados wrote. “Dave is not a lazy person looking for a handout. He would work enough hours to pay for his van but David is unable to work more hours because he will risk losing his disability benefits, David is at a loss. The cost of a new or used Handicap accessible van is way out of his ballpark.

“In conclusion let's help David maintain his independence and freedom. He needs us, and we need him!!!”

So far, the page has raised more than $9,700 of its $30,000 goal in the 10 months (as of Friday afternoon). But the donations have been picking up steam in the past day or so with the Clinton Police Benevolent Association and Families Helping Families Clinton CT working to help get the word out.

Visit the GoFundMe page here.

Photo via GoFundMe

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