MONROE, La. – A local restaurant is helping raise money for a disabled girl.
2Dudes Brew & Que is on the mission to help an autistic girl get a service dog.
Lyric Nash is 11 years old. She has autism and is non-verbal. Her dad, John Nash, started a Facebook page to help with the fundraiser.
“This dog is basically trained to be the whole shebang. It’s a friend. It’s a companion. It’s a protector for when it runs off. The shoulder to lean on when they throw a fit,” Nash said.
Kevo Meredith, the owner of 2Dudes Brew & Que, got word of it and wanted to do more than share the page.
“Let’s raise the money, not only for Lyric, but for other children like her. It just started getting bigger, bigger and bigger,” Meredith said.
The restaurant along with other businesses is holding a block party to fundraise in downtown Monroe.
“Even though it’s helping Lyric get a service dog, it’s to open the other eyes of other people around because I know she’s not the only one with autism. I know that there are others here that could actually use the same,” Nash said.
There will be a wiffle ball tournament, a silent auction, a fashion show, music, and more spanning down DeSiard St. The event will be held Saturday, April 17, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“To not be able to communicate has got to be something awful. To have this joy and this release, I mean that’s what life’s all about. That’s what we work for, and I think we’re going to give that to Lyric,” Meredith said.
This has inspired Meredith to start his own organization called Dude’s Mission to supply service dogs to veterans and children with disabilities.
They hope this event will raise awareness to help those who can benefit from service dogs.
