Jonathan D. Blundell

Jonathan Blundell
Staff writer

In support of one of their own, Ellis County residents are planning a benefit dinner, auction and dance to benefit Army Spc. Jason McCully and his family.
The St. Patrick’s Day Benefit will be held from 6:30 p.m. till midnight on Saturday, March 27 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Ennis.
A spaghetti dinner will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and an auction and raffle will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a dance following.
McCully is a 1991 graduate of Waxahachie High School and was seriously injured while serving with the 2nd Infantry in Iraq.
After his second injury in June 2005, McCully was medically evacuated to Germany and then flown to the states for surgery.
Since his surgery he was stationed with his wife and four children at Fort Carson, Colo., before returning home to Waxahachie within the last few weeks.
But with his injury, life has changed for the McCullys, who were married just three years ago. McCully now has to live with seizures throughout the day and Marirose was forced to quit her job to care for him.
“Our car has been repossessed and we’re having difficulty making ends meet,” Marirose said in a January interview with the Waxahachie Daily Light. “I had to quit my job and stay home to take care of him because he has seizures. I haven’t been able to work and the only car we’ve had was the Mustang his mother bought him after graduation. With four kids it just doesn’t work.”
The McCully’s have four children, ranging in age from 5 to 15 years old.
While the family awaits paperwork from the Army for McCully to receive his medical discharge, they are faced with trying to support their family of six on an income of just $700 a month.
The 2006 federal poverty guideline for a family of six is an annual income of $26,800.
“We’re looking for everyone to get involved with this benefit,” event organizer Denise Smotek said. “We’re looking for businesses to get involved and really looking for the community to get involved.”
Smotek said she met with the family shortly after they returned home to Waxahachie and felt a real need to help the family.
“This is a man who has fought with great pride for our freedom and now has to figure out a way to support his family on $700 a month,” Smotek said. “They no longer have a car they can all fit in and go somewhere as a family because they lost theirs to repossession. Is this the way our Military personnel should be thanked for all their hard work and dedication to our country?”
The event will be done entirely with donations.
The Knights of Columbus in Ennis have donated the hall for the evening and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Patriot Guard Riders and others have already pledged their support and involvement.
The Patriot Guard Riders are planning a ride from Waxahachie to Ennis the day of the benefit.
“We’re trying to put everything together now,” Smotek said. “We’ll hold planning meetings next week so we ask people to get involved now if they’d like to help.”
Smotek said they are accepting any type of donations and gifts to go in the auction and raffle that will be held that night.
Organizers will also sell 50/50 tickets, with half of the money going to the person holding the winning ticket and the other half going to the McCully family.
“All businesses or organizations making donations will be recognized the night of the benefit,” Smotek said. “We’re also looking for bands willing to give of their time during this event. If you are a band or know of a band please let them know we are in need.”
Donations may be dropped off the day of the event or picked up in advance.
For more information on the event or to make a donation for the auction and raffle, contact Smotek at (214) 287-2142 or neecee1966@msn.com.
Individuals interested in helping the family directly can contact Jason or Marirose McCully at (972) 937-8435.
A fund has also been set up for the McCullys at Vintage Bank in Waxahachie under Marirose McCully.