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ANGELS IN OUR MIDST

WEAR ABC 3 :: Angels' In Our Midst (Michael Blevins)
As a child, he knew his grandparents were stern about compassion, values, and hard work.

They were what people often called the "old soldiers."

Well, what they taught a "young" soldier has followed him all of his days and has served him, and his community, well.

Voice of Michael Blevins; "Whatever I've got to share and whatever I was blessed with, that I share it with other people too. Grandmother kind of taught me that."

Michael Blevins has always tried to heed his grandmother's admonition. While she focused on his heart, his grandfather taught him to use his hands.

Michael Blevins; "My grandfather used to keep me outside, ten, eleven o'clock at night holding the light. So, I said, well, since I've got to be out here, I might as well learn something. He always taught me, if you take something apart, always be able to put it back together."

The retired soldier is now a safety manager for Pensacola Bay transportation, a company that transports the elderly and disabled for medical treatment. When he was a driver for the company, he noticed something that would put in motion what he learned at his grandparents' knees.

Michael; "I went to some client's houses that was really having difficulties getting out of the house with a manual chair, some didn't have chairs. So, I said, let me start talking to some people and start going out and seeing if I could come up with some wheelchairs to help them."

The used wheelchairs and equipment that people give him, he's skilled at making like new. Michael goes into his own pocket to buy any needed parts.

Michael; "Rebuilding different things on them to get them to where they can go where they can help somebody."

Cora Myrick, Amputee Received A Wheelchair; "He's really nice about helping you, he really is."

"Like I said, I've been blessed so I'm going to share that blessing with somebody else."

Cora; "It was terrible. I was in a little old chair that you push in the house. And boy, I had knots all on my arms. Here's one here just about gone. I just couldn't maneuver in that chair."

In the past three and a half years, Michael Blevins has restored and donated 50 power wheelchairs, 100 manual chairs and countless walkers, canes and crutches. His grandparents are deceased, but Michael keeps their teachings alive.

Michael; I go by and talk to my grandmother all the time. And I feel so good when I've completed that day and I go and let her know what I've done, I feel good, I really do.Angels' In Our Midst (Michael Blevins)

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