Magical wishes: Vanderbilt family looking for VCRs, Disney tapes for birthday surprise
Jimmy Rearick of Vanderbilt holds up a VHS tape of 鈥淪cooby Doo.鈥� Episodes of the cartoon and Disney movies are among his favorite things to watch. (Submitted photos)
Friends and family of Jimmy Rearick of Vanderbilt are asking the public to donate new or used VHS tapes and VCRs to Jimmy for his 45th birthday on April 24.
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While VCRs and VHS tapes haven鈥檛 been widely used for nearly 20 years, to Jimmy Rearick, they鈥檙e beloved items.
The Vanderbilt man, who is autistic, finds joy in his VHS Disney movies and 鈥淪cooby-Doo鈥� shows. But finding VCRs 鈥� and tapes of the shows he likes to watch 鈥� isn鈥檛 quite as easy as it once was.
As his 45th birthday nears (it鈥檚 April 24), his family is hoping anyone who has an old VCR or tapes might consider gifting them to Rearick.
The idea came from family friend Samantha Colbert, who made an appeal on Facebook for VHS Disney tapes, VCRs or shirts with Disney characters.
鈥淛immy always has his movies, and I have seen him get upset when they are destroyed,鈥� said Colbert, who lives in Ohio. 鈥淢y son is also autistic, so knowing how badly they cherish their belongings that are their 鈥榯hing.鈥� I knew Jimmy would be thrilled to get 鈥榥ew鈥� movies or a VCR.鈥�
A native of Tacoma, Washington, Rearick moved to live with his aunt and uncle in Vanderbilt when he was 11. Their daughter, Angela Kusko, said there wasn鈥檛 the same level of awareness and help for those with autism as there is now when he moved to Fayette County more than 30 years ago.
鈥淲e did take him to auditory training in Ohio, and we did see some improvements, but not much,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e came to terms with it; that he鈥檇 never be like the other kids.鈥�
Rearick鈥檚 life, Kusko said, is full of love 鈥� he enjoys spending time with his family, going outside, and visiting with neighbors. And he especially treasures time spent watching television and movies. In fact, she said, he often carries around copies of his favorite VHS movies.
Over the years, the family has kept on the lookout for working VCRs. Now, they are down to having only three of the machines that ceased production nearly a decade ago.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 know what we鈥檒l do when they are all broken and we can鈥檛 find any more,鈥� Kusko said.
Colbert said folks may have the machines or tapes taking up space in a basement or attic 鈥� but sending those nearly obsolete items to the family would make Rearick鈥檚 day.
鈥淭he simple things in life are what matter,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not the VHS movies that are being sent and donated, it鈥檚 the smile on Jimmy鈥檚 face and seeing him happy, and it鈥檚 the proof that goodness in society still exists.鈥�
Kusko agreed. She said when her cousin receives a gift, especially ones as special as a VCR or VHS tapes, he gets so excited he starts shaking.
鈥�(He鈥檚) like a little kid on Christmas but 20 times more excited,鈥� Kusko said.
Since Colbert made her initial social media post, Kusko said Rearick has received and opened some early gifts. Those that come from here on out, she said, will be set aside until his birthday to make it extra special for him.
Colbert said it鈥檚 a reminder of just how kind people are.
鈥淭hey don鈥檛 even know Jimmy, and they are happy to help and spend their money to ship these to him,鈥� she said.
Rearick wears the size extra-large in men鈥檚 shirts, and Kusko said he also likes clocks, calendars and radios. Anyone who wants to send him a VCR, tapes or any of those items, can do so by sending it to Jimmy Rearick, P.O. Box 512, Vanderbilt, Pa., 15486.