Benefit dinner held for family of injured Trevorton man
justin strawser/Staff Photo Several pictures of David Gulba hang on a poster board in the Mountainside Assembly of God Saturday while a benefit dinner takes place to raise funds for him and his family. Gulba was seriously injured last year when he fell from scaffolding. His wife, Barb Gulba, talks to a friend in the background.
justin strawser/Staff Photo The family of David Gulba gathered at a benefit dinner Saturday at Mountainside Assembly of God to raise funds after Gulba was injured last year in a scaffolding fall. From left are son, David Gulba Jr.; grandson, Charles Hoffman, son-in-law, Byron Hoffman; daughter, April Hoffman, holding grandson, Wyatt; son, John Gulba; wife, Barb Gulba; son-in-law; Shane Lahr, holding granddaughter, Madison Lahr; and daughter, Bethany Lahr.
by justin strawser
COAL TOWNSHIP - The Gulba family is taking it one day at a time following an accident last year that left their patriarch with extensive brain injuries.
"It's good to have good Christian friends and family to depend on. We're not by ourselves," said Barb Gulba Saturday evening at a benefit dinner for her husband, Dave, at Mountainside Assembly of God, Trevorton Road.
It will be a year in June since Dave Gulba was working his job as a painter on Independence Street, Shamokin, when he fell from scaffolding, seriously injuring himself.
At first, said Barb Gulba, doctors were sure he wasn't going to make it, but the 53-year-old Trevorton man has been improving. He is still recuperating at Grandview Health Homes Inc. in Danville, proving the doctors wrong and surprising everyone.
"He's got an iron will," said David Gulba Jr., 31. "He's stubborn in a positive point of view. It may take time, but I never knew him giving up on anything."
The family explained that Dave can understand and respond. He appears to recognize his family, but can't yet fully function.
"They said he'd never remember any of us," Gulba Jr. continued. "It's a slow process, but it's successful."
Barb and Dave have been married since 1976 and have lived in Trevorton for 16 years. Together, they have four children, Dave Jr.; April Hoffman, and her husband, Byron; Bethany Lahr and her husband, Shane; and John Gulba; and three grandchildren, Charles Hoffman, Wyatt and Madison.
The dinner was organized by Kathy Miller, a friend of the Gulba family for 25 years.
"It's hard to believe this has happened to him," she said.
Her goal was to sell 200 tickets and raise $1,500 - and although the numbers aren't in yet, she is certain she exceeded that goal.
Other fundraisers had been organized before, such as bake sales and hoagie sales, Miller said, "But I felt it was time to do something big."
And so Miller, in her own words, ran herself "ragged for months" making phone calls, visiting vendors, selling tickets, but not without the help of several volunteers that she could not have done it without.
Three Shamokin meat markets - Shaw's Meat Market & Deli, Anthracite Provision Co. and Irish Isle Provision Co. Inc. - donated 150 pounds of chicken. Varano's Warehouse in Mount Carmel donated canned goods. Wholesome Bread Bakery in Sunbury donated rolls. Private individuals donated $400 and Weis Markets, Scot's Markets Inc. and Boyer's Food Markets all donated gift cards.
At least 100 pounds of potatoes were purchased.
In addition, desserts were donated by church patrons.
Vic Kocur provided the entertainment while people ate Saturday evening.
"It was a fantastic effort by everyone," said Miller.
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