Morgantown/Honey Brook townlively.com
MAY 26, 2021
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXIX • NO 17
Providing Wheelchairs To Those In Need BY FRANCINE FULTON
s a soldier in the United States Army, Honey Brook resident Marlin King served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. However, that was not his only trip to the country in southeast Asia. In fact, King has traveled back to Vietnam 11 times, where he has given out nearly 1,000 wheelchairs to the disabled, including threewheeled chairs that are suitable for use on the road. King, who uses a wheelchair himself, is well known in the community for founding King Tables in 1974. The company manufactures picnic tables and outdoor lawn furniture. His charitable effort started when King invested in another out-ofstate outdoor furniture company that failed. “ When I thought about the money that I lost there, it bugged me, but one day I said, ‘Lord, if I ever get that money back, I will use every dollar to help handicapped
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people,’” King recalled. “One day I got a check in the mail for the whole (amount I invested). I did not even know it was coming. I decided that I was going (back) to Vietnam since that what was on my mind.” His first visit to Vietnam after that was in April of 2008. With the help of his late friend Paul Pinkerton, King found a wheelchair builder in Vietnam. “(Paul) was big on helping kids, and he had his own organization called Paul’s Kids. He was my contact,” King explained. “We found a wheelchair manufacturer, and he designed the three-wheeled chair.” While in Vietnam, King would rent a 26-passenger bus, find a driver who spoke the language and fill the bus with wheelchairs for distribution. Some wheelchairs, including those that were modified for use by children, were give out to people who requested them on a website designed by a friend that King met while staying at a hotel in Vietnam. Other wheelchairs were given out randomly. See Wheelchairs pg 5
Birdsboro OJR High School Hosts Special Olympics For District Students Firefigher Publishes Although the Chester County Special Olympics was canceled this Second Book year because of the pandemic, stuBY FRANCINE FULTON
BY FRANCINE FULTON
Firefighter Steve Dragon, the public information officer for the Birdsboro-Union Fire Department, recently published his second children’s book, “Were You Born a Dragon Too?” The book is a follow-up to his first one, “Were You Born a Dragon?” released in December 2019. See Birdsboro Firefighter pg 5
dents with special needs in the Owen J. Roberts (OJR) School District were still able to enjoy fitnessbased competition, camaraderie and fun at their own Special Olympicsstyle event on May 14 in Wildcat Stadium at OJR High School.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Morgantown Resident Wins WCU Award . . . . . . .2 Local Graduate To Compete For Miss Pennsylvania Title . . . . . . .3 Community Calendar . . . .4 House Of Worship . . . . . . .9 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . .10
See Special Olympics pg 5
Owen J. Roberts (OJR) School District students enjoyed a Special Olympics-style event on May 14 at OJR High School.
Retro Road Trip: PA’s Drive-In Movie Theaters . . . . . . . .12
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Marlin King has given out nearly 1,000 wheelchairs to disabled people in Vietnam, including a three-wheeled variety that is suitable for use on the road.
