News & Columns > Michael P. Neufeld > Community Rallies Around James and Roland (Update)

Community Rallies Around James and Roland (Update)

James Recovering After Being Hit By Car

By Michael P. Neufeld
Monday, August 4, 2008

View Alert

Update — Monday 3:46 a.m.

Crestline, CA — Community volunteers raised $1,022 by collecting donations in front of Goodwin's Sunday. The money goes to James and Roland Mainer to assist with expenses associated with James' hospitalization following an automobile accident Friday.

His brother Roland asked RIMOFTHEWORLD.net to please thank "everyone for their support."

Original Story — Sunday, 12:52 p.m.

Crestline, CA – In the tradition of people helping people, local residents are rallying to assist James and Roland Mainer in Crestline following James' accident Friday evening that resulted in his hospitalization at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

"He's going to be there for a while," Roland Mainer told RIMOFTHEWORLD.net, "he's hurt pretty bad. He's my younger brother and 61."

Collections for James and Roland Mainer are underway at Goodwins Market in Crestline to help defray the hospital costs following the traffic accident involving James on Friday. Katie Carson holds the collection bucket while Debbie Lamont makes some temporary signs. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Community supporters have agreed to collect funds to help James and Roland during this difficult time—just like Roland has done for countless others.

"Roland has helped so many people over the years," herblady told RIMOFTHEWORLD.net. "A few years ago, Roland collected funds after my husband passed away. Now it's time for us to help the Mainer brothers."

Roland Mainer, a fixture in front of the Crestline Post Office or Goodwin's, collects money for worthy community causes and victims of unfortunate accidents. Now Roland's brother is in the hospital and the Mainer brothers need our help. (Photo by Lee Reeder.)

"They always bring a smile to my face," reliablepetcare stated. "They have always seemed to be very kind and gentle men and always make me think of Floyd the barber in the Andy Griffith Show. They add to our town…that Mayberry small town feeling."

RRinCrestline and her family had many wonderful things to say about both brothers. "I pray that God will heal James so they we can all visit with him again and take the time to tell him the things we feel about him that we never thought to say before! Roland is a wonderful caring brother and don't we all wish we had a brother like him! Those two have given so much to Crestline and now need and deserve the community's support."

"Roland is constantly sitting for hours upon hours at the Post Office or at Goodwin's," 2muttsmom noted, "collecting for this group or that family or this cause – more than the rest of us would do, I'm sure."

LeeReeder, who contributes to the community in so many ways himself, stopped by Goodwin's to drop some money in the bucket. He shared the following story about James' wonderful sense of humor.

"During the Old Fire," Reeder recalled, "the two brothers got separated and James spent a week in Crestline wondering what had become of his brother during the evacuation. He checked evacuation centers and friends, and nobody knew his whereabouts.

"It wasn't until a week after the evacuation that he found out that Roland had been staying with the family of another Crestline resident in Redondo Beach," Reeder continued. "James told me that he was greatly relieved to know that his brother had been safe and sound at the beach for eight days, but he said, 'When he gets back home, I'm going to wring his neck.'"

In addition to collections from time to time at Goodwin's and the Crestline Post Office, individuals may take donations to two mountain businesses.

Saville 1300, Inc. (23795 Lake Drive – across from Lake Gregory Coffee Company) will be accepting donations for James and Roland weekdays with all fund collected given to Crest Forest Fire Chief Michael Sherman for distribution to the Mainer brothers.

Contributions can also be mailed to Saville at P.O. Box 886, Crestline, CA 92325-0886.

Health Habitat (27190 Highway 189 in Blue Jay – across from The Royal Oak Restaurant) will accept donations Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.