Page 17 - Flathead Beacon // 6_10_15

LEFT TO RIGHT Zechariah Himsl shows off his Legos; Zechariah Himsl shows his father Nick his video games. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
the Himsls, who simply wanted to make their son’s day a special one.
“I’m just floored at how much response we’ve gotten,” Nick Himsl said. “And it’s not just people in our community, it’s everywhere.”
Now faced with the prospect of receiv- ing hundreds of Lego pieces for his birth- day – a much larger canvas on which to build his Lego Magazine creation – Zech is excited. When asked what he might make with all those pieces, his body went still, he gazed off, and cracked a wide grin.
“I’m not too sure yet,” he said.
As with some of his other favorite past- times, like fishing or hiking, creating with Legos takes precision and patience, giv- ing him a calm space. Sandy and Nick hope to have him back in school next year for fifth grade, and hope this experience will help Zech find his place.
Until then, they’ll continue to help their son build the best life he can.
“I feel very proud,” Zech said when considering the response his mom’s post received on Facebook.
Looking at her son sitting across the living room, his smile radiating, Sandy’s eyes started tearing up again.
“I feel very proud of you,” she said.
For more information on Zech’s upcoming birthday party, check the Voices for Forrest Facebook page. To con- tribute a card and a Lego piece, send the package to 2248 Pintail Court, Kalispell, Montana, 59901.
[email protected]
“I was kind of worried about what his birthday would be like this year,” she said. With that in mind, Sandy took to Face- book on June 1, hoping to find 50 people to send birthday cards and a single Lego
piece to Zech for his August birthday. The goal, according to Zech, is to build a creation out of all the random pieces he receives, and then take a picture of said creation and send it to Lego Magazine, to which he subscribes and reads religiously. Fifty cards in two months seemed doable, Sandy said, but she had no idea. By the evening of June 1, her post had been shared more than 700 times. By June 5, it had been shared nearly 14,000 times,
with people all over the country promis- ing to send Lego pieces.
Even the Lego headquarters caught wind of the idea, and emailed Sandy, let- ting her know that Lego employees and creators would be sending cards and a bag of random pieces.
“I’ve been crying for the last two days,” Sandy said on June 4. “I can’t wrap my brain around it; getting that much love and support for your child is all any par- ent can ever hope for.”
Having experienced problems with bul- lying at school, Zech was homeschooled this last year, isolating him even further from his peers. But with the popularity of
the Lego birthday request, parents from around the valley have gotten in touch with the Himsls about play dates.
Another local group, Voices for Forrest – started after the death of two-year-old Evergreen boy Forrest Groshelle – also reached out, saying they would like to organize an outdoor birthday party for Zech.
Cindy Juntunen Rice, who runs Voices for Forrest, said she wanted to help out a little boy who has felt alone and bul- lied, and since Zech feels the best when he’s outside, she wanted to host a Lego- themed party for him in a local park.
The attention has nearly overwhelmed
FOOD THAT’S IN WHILE SCHOOL IS OUT!
Kids 0-18 are invited to free, delicious breakfast and lunch at three sites around Kalispell June 15-August 26, Monday-Friday!
Join us for our Kick Off BBQ at Woodland Park 11:30-1:00 on Friday, June 19, 2015!
Delicious, Local Food, Kalispell Fire Department trucks, Face Painting, Games, Zumba and more!
Meal Times and Locations:
Elrod Elementary: Breakfast 8:00 – 9:00 am, Lunch 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Woodland Park: Breakfast 8:30 – 9:30 am, Lunch 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Russell Elementary: Lunch 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Summer 2015 Collection
www.toggerymontana.com
THE
TOGGERY
MONTANA
122 Central Ave. 30 Commons Way Whitefish, MT Kalispell, MT
406-862-2271 406-755-1500
JUNE 10, 2015 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
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