|
 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.”
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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] |
