How It Began

          In March of 2007 Donna Reedy, a nurse employed by a local hospice agency, was assigned to a new patient.  The patient was battling a rare form of brain cancer and was now one year into the fight.  After going into remission in November of 2006, the cancer re-emerged in January of 2007 and had dramatically spread into the patient’s spine, that patient was Tim Spell. 

          Mr. Spell’s life was one full of highs and lows, characterized by a fairy tale like love affair with his wife, business success that broke expectations, and community leadership and respect.  He was a model family man full of integrity and value.  He had a genuine love for people.  With no doubt, he was respected by many and has had an everlasting mark upon his local community.

          By the time Ms. Reedy was assigned to Mr. Spell, he was unable to walk and had entered a time of diminishing health.  In those last days Ms. Reedy worked feverishly to make sure that the family was comforted and that Mr. Spell had everything he needed at all times. She worked countless hours off the clock and personally paid for items Mr. Spell needed. Most of these items were not provided by insurance.  Ms. Reedy did this in an effort to bring the maximum level of comfort in his last days.  On Sunday morning, April 22, 2007, family and friends joined in the home of Mr. Spell, which was common during the last days.  The living room filled with praises while worship went forth in spite of the inevitable fate that loomed ahead.  By this time Mr. Spell was unable to talk and was completely bed ridden. That morning a love offering of four hundred dollars was taken up from friends and family and given to Ms. Reedy for all of the extra effort she had given to the Spell family.  At 6:23 that evening, Mr. Spell passed away.

          In the following days, the roll of cash given as a love offering to Ms. Reedy was labeled Tim’s Gift.  From that an effort was born by Ms. Reedy to continue the work she had seen through the final weeks of Mr. Spell’s life.  Through those final weeks people’s lives were touched and changed spiritually, emotionally, and financially. 

          Within a year after Mr. Spell’s death, Donna met with Becky (Tim’s wife) to explain the amazing events of the preceding months with detailed accounts of the numerous families that had been helped as a result of that first financial seed. Over the next year Becky joined in alongside Donna working to help cancer and hospice patients. Their focus was not only to provide medical items to those in need, but to also address the emotional and spiritual needs of the patients in their families.  From this, Tim’s Gift, Inc. was born.  No other name for the organization seemed appropriate.  Tim Spell was an unselfish man, a man that truly lived the golden rule.  Even now, after his earthly departure, individuals approach the family with stories of how Tim gave.  He gave of his time, his finances, his friendship, and his love of God.  Tim’s Gift continues in an effort to give!