Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Salvation Army teams up with retail giant to throw a young boy a party he won’t forget.
Pikeville - “W-A-L-M-A-R-T…What’s that spell?”
“Wal-Mart!”
“Who’s Wal-Mart is it?”
“ETHANS!!”
And five year old Ethan Bentley was happy to make the Pikeville Wal-Mart his, as he embarked on a shopping spree courtesy of many volunteers touched by the Bentley Family’s tragic story.
Before setting out in the store to purchase what ever his heart desired, Wal-Mart management led the group of associates, volunteers and family of Ethan’s in the traditional Wal-Mart cheer, which usually ends with the phrase “Who’s Wal-Mart is it?; My Wal-Mart!”
But on Tuesday September 5, the giant retail store belonged to Ethan.
Surrounded by balloons, toys, family, Salvation Army volunteers and Wal-Mart associates Ethan Bentley seemed to be on top of the world, however, it’s been a rough road for the young man with an infections smile over the last couple of months.
On June 5th Ethan, a Virgie resident suffering from caner underwent a liver transplant at a hospital in Cincinnati. The operation, though successful, kept the Bentley family away from their Virgie home for seven weeks over the summer.
Once arriving back home, Ethan’s family found that they had been robbed. According to Ethan’s parents, the thief took everything of value in the home.
“When we got home Late on a Friday night, we came in and they had taken everything of value.” stated Donna Bentley recalling the ordeal.
“What made me madder than anything though was that they had gone into Ethan’s room and took his Bennie Babies.” Bentley continued “That’s why I say it was so cold.”
After hearing of Ethan’s story, Salvation Army volunteers decided to throw Ethan a party on the afternoon of September 5, and the Pikeville Wal-Mart was happy to chip in.
The Salvation Army decided to give Ethan Five Hundred dollars to go shopping on and Wal-Mart contributed two hundred more, allowing him to buy whatever he wanted.
“Wal-Mart!”
“Who’s Wal-Mart is it?”
“ETHANS!!”
And five year old Ethan Bentley was happy to make the Pikeville Wal-Mart his, as he embarked on a shopping spree courtesy of many volunteers touched by the Bentley Family’s tragic story.
Before setting out in the store to purchase what ever his heart desired, Wal-Mart management led the group of associates, volunteers and family of Ethan’s in the traditional Wal-Mart cheer, which usually ends with the phrase “Who’s Wal-Mart is it?; My Wal-Mart!”
But on Tuesday September 5, the giant retail store belonged to Ethan.
Surrounded by balloons, toys, family, Salvation Army volunteers and Wal-Mart associates Ethan Bentley seemed to be on top of the world, however, it’s been a rough road for the young man with an infections smile over the last couple of months.
On June 5th Ethan, a Virgie resident suffering from caner underwent a liver transplant at a hospital in Cincinnati. The operation, though successful, kept the Bentley family away from their Virgie home for seven weeks over the summer.
Once arriving back home, Ethan’s family found that they had been robbed. According to Ethan’s parents, the thief took everything of value in the home.
“When we got home Late on a Friday night, we came in and they had taken everything of value.” stated Donna Bentley recalling the ordeal.
“What made me madder than anything though was that they had gone into Ethan’s room and took his Bennie Babies.” Bentley continued “That’s why I say it was so cold.”
After hearing of Ethan’s story, Salvation Army volunteers decided to throw Ethan a party on the afternoon of September 5, and the Pikeville Wal-Mart was happy to chip in.
The Salvation Army decided to give Ethan Five Hundred dollars to go shopping on and Wal-Mart contributed two hundred more, allowing him to buy whatever he wanted.
# posted by Justin Mullins @ 3:13 PM 
