Culver's of Lincoln to host all day fundraiser for Stacy Peacock this Saturday

Send a link to a friend  Share

[April 04, 2017]   LINCOLN - This Saturday, April 8th from 10:30 am until 10:00 p.m. will be a special day at the Lincoln Culver’s Restaurant. All proceeds will go to Stacy Presswood Peacock (pictured with her brother Shane Presswood) of Lincoln.

Peacock suffered a spinal cord injury from an accident that occurred in October of 2016. It left her paralyzed from the chest down.

The restaurant proudly locally owned and operated by Elaine and Steve Aue, is known throughout Logan County for hosting evening fundraisers to help the community, but this particular cause “hits home.”

According to Elaine Aue, she is more than willing to lend a helping hand for a local woman.

Peacock is the mother of three girls, ages six, 10 and 14.

Prior to the accident, Peacock worked at The Christian Village and she was most recently a hospice nurse at Safe Haven Hospice. Peacock is widely known throughout the community as one who helped others.

Family and friends are now combining efforts to help Peacock and the Culver’s fundraiser is just one on a list of upcoming efforts to help the young woman.

Elaine, who does not personally know Peacock, explained the reason behind doing an all day event. "This is not something that I normally do. We are going to do 100 percent of the sales for Stacy. Everything in the door is going to go to her benefit.” So whether you come in for a ButterBurger meal or any of the entrees on the menu or simply stop in for some Culver’s famous Fresh Frozen Custard, 100 percent of the sales go to help Peacock.

Elaine mentioned that she does do an entire day of fundraising for St. Jude’s, but other causes normally benefit from evening fundraisers only.

Continuing to explain her reason behind the full day, Elaine said, "I feel like this is a hometown person that needs our help. I think it’s a good cause to help her family and to help with her medical bills. I mean she’s got the positive attitude and she’s going out and giving it all she can give it, so why don’t we try and help her through it, you know.”

Elaine said that she knows a lot of Peacock's family members are coming to help, her daughters are coming to help and also some members of Audra’s Dance Class are pitching in with the efforts this Saturday. “They all will come in and run orders to the tables, help keep tables clean and run orders to the car,” said Elaine. "My team will obviously do all the cooking and taking food orders.”

“Everybody in the door that day will be supporting her,” said Elaine.

The most poignant reason for the all day event was revealed by Elaine as the interview progressed. Elaine first saw news of Peacock’s accident in a paper and then somebody brought in a flyer to Culver’s and asked for a donation.

“I don’t know. It kind of hit home because of my sister’s accident many years ago. I know what it’s like….” said Elaine, her voice breaking up, as tears came to her eyes. “It hits home. It hit hard.”

[to top of second column]

Elaine would go on to explain that her sister, Lucinda Reifsteck, was involved in an automobile accident on Valentine’s Day morning in 1985 at the young age of 24. Lucinda hit black ice on the way to college in Freeport while driving her little Fiat car. Her brother, David, was in the car with her and Lucinda more than likely saved his life. The driver of the van that hit Lucinda’s vehicle said he was headed towards the passenger’s door when something happened. Elaine explained, “The guy coming at them, the van that hit them, said he was headed for David’s door for sure. He said there were deep ditches and he couldn’t go anywhere. He said at the last minute she (Lucinda) turned the wheel and spun it to hit her side. David said he remembered Lucinda screaming, “David, no.”

Lucinda was in a coma for a year, according to Elaine. Lucinda and Elaine were just 14 months apart in age. “We were like twins,” said Elaine, emphasizing that the two sisters did not look alike however. "Lucinda had soft blue eyes and there was something about her. The guys just went to her like a magnet. She was just really down to earth, next door, cute little girl.” Elaine laughed when saying, “I was like a wallflower” with Lucinda around. “She was just a dandy of a person and loved life to the fullest.” Elaine also sees a lot of similarities between Lucinda and her own daughter, Kristan.

Lucinda would live for 27 years unable to walk and talk. “That’s a long time to be on this earth, but as David said, “You know, she had a lot of lives to touch and a lot of things to do, so she stayed,” said Elaine. Lucinda lived at St. Clara’s Manor while in Lincoln and she was the love of Brian Aper’s life. Elaine believes Aper, a Logan County man who had suffered an accident in 1980, and Lucinda were soul mates and later in life they would spend their days together at a rehab facility in Lincoln.

"It happens quickly and it happens too often,” said Elaine, of these life-changing accidents.
 


No doubt as customers come through the door or drive-thru Saturday at Culver’s, not only will they be helping Stacy and her family with medical expenses, but folks will also unknowingly be helping Elaine and her family honor the memory of Lucinda. The financial support will be obvious but you cannot put a dollar amount on the emotional support that both families will be receiving.

Finally, Elaine hopes for a big day Saturday, as she and her team open their hearts to help Stacy. "I had them pick a Saturday because Saturday’s are one of our better days, instead of a weekday. I thought we would get more highway traffic and everything coming in on a Saturday. Hopefully we can pack this place all day long.”

[Teena Lowery]

Back to top