‘Benji’s Bus’
Lonna Smith, executive director of the Wishing Star Foundation in Spokane, smiles as she checks on the inside of what will be Benji’s bus on Wednesday at Bay Shore Systems in Rathdrum.
BILL BULEY/Press
BILL BULEY/Press The mirror reflects those involved in renovating a school bus for Benji through the Wishing Star Foundation. From left are Andrea Kilgore, Lonna Smith, Cindy Guthrie, Mark Peterson in back, Josh Fitzgerald and Bob Beamis.
BILL BULEY/Press Cindy Guthrie, Wishing Star Foundation director of donor relations, stands in the school bus being retrofitted Wednesday at Bay Shore Systems. She is joined by, from left, Bob Beamis and Josh Fitzgerald with Bay Shore, and Mark Peterson with the KXLY Extreme Team.
Wishing Star Foundation oversees project to benefit boy
RATHDRUM — This bus is for Benji.
Yes, the entire, 35-foot long, 8-foot wide, old yellow school bus is being renovated at Bay Shore Systems Inc. for the 12-year-old boy with special needs.
Don’t worry. He won’t be driving it. He’ll be playing in it in his backyard.
“Isn’t it a beauty,” said Lonna Smith, Wishing Star Foundation executive director, as she looked over the bus Wednesday morning. “That’s a big bus.”
“One of the things we always say, ‘If a Wish kid can wish it, we can grant it,” she continued. “This is extremely unusual and amazing at the same time.”
Benji, who lives in Spokane, loves buses. He is fascinated by them. He delights in riding the bus.
“The minute I start talking about the bus, his eyes light up,” said Mark Peterson, Good Morning NW anchor with the KXLY Extreme Team. “It’s a connection that’s really super cool.”
The bus, donated for $1 courtesy of Spalding Auto Parts, is undergoing a transformation at Bay Shore.
Josh Fitzgerald, Bay Shore, mechanical engineer, said their modifications include a wheelchair ramp out the back door, lights, electricity, air-conditioning, a family sitting area, padded floor area and ceiling piping for physical therapy, and TV. The engine compartment will hold toys and the driver’s seat will be where Benji can sit and pretend to be driving with some of the gauges lighting up.
It will definitely be full service.
‘I think it’s going to be great,” Fitzgerald said. “I’m actually super excited to work on it. I think it’s great to do stuff for kids.”
Wishing Star Foundation hopes to deliver it by month’s end. The bus will be towed to Spokane and then a crane will be required to lift it into the backyard.
Work on it was delayed due to the coronavirus restrictions.
“It will be tough but we’re going to do what we can to get it done,” Fitzgerald said.
The $20,000 project is being funded with primarily in-kind donations of labor and material. Key sponsors include Bay Shore, Spalding, Mountain States Electrical, Blue Dog RV, Mint Condition Detailing and Place LA.
Smith said they are looking forward to the joy on Benji’s face when he sees the bus in his backyard.
“That reaction, that fuels our tanks,” she said. “That’s why we do what we do.”
The Wishing Star Foundation is based in Spokane but works with children in Idaho. It has granted more than 1,300 wishes and served more than 5,000 families in its 36 years.
Even after the wish, program director Andrea Kilgore said Wishing Star is there meeting other needs that arise.
“We truly serve our families,” she said.
Bob Beamis, Bay Shore production manager, said while they are busy enough with work at the Rathdrum site, they are determined to meet the timeline to have Benji’s bus ready to roll.
“We’ll make it,” he said.
