One of ways that grieving families can find comfort after a heartbreaking loss is to focus their energies on keeping the memories of their loved one alive through positive efforts to benefit the community.
Max's Kicks for Kids (MK4K), a new organization that provides back-to-school shoes for children in need, is named for Max Engle, a Chester County probation officer who passed away in September 2018. MK4K was founded by president Tom Engle, Max's father; vice president Lynn Engle, Max's mother; and secretary Claire Engle, Max's sister.
Lynn said that the family members never imagined that they would start an organization in Max's memory. "Our niece and nephew lost their son, and they have a large foundation - Griffin's Guardians. Griffin had a brain tumor (and passed away) at 7 and even though he and Max had 25 years between them, they were buddies," Lynn stated. "I admired what they had done, but I never expected we would do anything like that."
At first, she said, the family decided to volunteer at Kennett Area Community Service. "Before we started the foundation, we started volunteering at the local food cupboard; it is something I always wanted to do," Lynn shared. "After Max died, I had to do something to continue and live by his example."
She said that the family was influenced by the quote, "I cannot do all the good that the world needs. But the world needs all the good that I can do."
"(Volunteering) was my baby step toward forming the foundation. It is humbling and gratifying to see the good we do (at the food cupboard), and we wanted to do more," Lynn said.
"As time went on, we were struck more and more by the loss of him, not just in our world, but in the world (where) he had a big impact on a lot of people," said Lynn. "At Max's funeral there was a woman, whom we didn't know, who introduced herself as being one of the people on probation that Max had supervised. She said that she was sad for herself because she wouldn't have Max to help her, but she was also sad for all the other people who wouldn't have Max's help.
"As the months went on, that statement really rang truer and truer with us," Lynn continued. "In June of this year, we started feeling like we wanted to do something to continue the good he did."
The family formed a nonprofit organization and chose to collect shoes because Max loved shoes. "A lot of organizations (collect) Christmas gifts, so we were thinking about back-to-school supplies. I was a teacher, and that was close to my heart," Lynn explained. "My daughter said, 'It has to be shoes.' That was her idea."
In time, the family partnered with the Friends Association for the Care and Protection of Children, recently donating 32 pairs of shoes to the organization.
Lynn said forming the charity has given the family a new focus. "Even before we started the foundation, his life and death were never out of our minds. Until you go through it, people don't understand," Lynn said. "We think about him moment by moment. (Forming the charity) helped me to have something to focus on. My husband and I are both retired, and we have a lot of time. It keeps my mind busy; it makes me feel better to do some good."
Lynn said the task of forming a charity has been emotionally difficult, but it helps with the healing process. "I get my strength from Max," she said. "I feel like I have the strength of two people, and I couldn't do it without him."
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