When a car hit Scott Becker leaving him with life-threatening injuries, the owners of the Lynnville Hotel knew they had to react.

On Sept. 23, Melissa and Kevin Monaghan will have a Chinese auction and more, as a show of support in an effort to raise $5,000 for Becker who remains hospitalized.

“Five thousand dollars shows him the love we have for him and [what] the people he doesn’t even know will do for him,” said Melissa Monaghan, who is spearheading the fundraiser. “He can use it.

“We’ve only known him for about six months but I love Scott.

“He’s like my little brother. It’s sad to know the rest of his life is going to be different.”

Becker remains in critical condition.

“Those nurses at Lehigh Valley Hospital are amazing for taking care of him, every single one of them,” said Melissa, also a nurse at Cedarbrook. “I wish I could just be his home care nurse.

“We’re not allowed to see him [since] he’s in ICU, [but] they’re very optimistic. He’s like a walking miracle.

The multifaceted fundraiser will take place at the Lynnville Hotel.

Kevin Monaghan discussed the Chinese auction.

“Our customers, our bartenders and local businesses assembled baskets and we’re setting them up at the bar,” Kevin Monaghan said.

“The tickets will be $10 for 10 tickets and $20 for 25 tickets,” said Melissa Monaghan.

“Every single penny of every single ticket will go to Scott. We’re going to start the drawing at 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. and you don’t have to be present to win.

“We’re also donating half of our draft sales to Scott because most of his friends drink draft beer.”

Melissa said she and bartender Megan Miller devised the idea for the fundraiser.

“Megan said why don’t we ask [patrons] for their change, since they drink 50 cent beer,” Melissa Monaghan said.

A collection jar was added for just such contributions. To date, $1,100 has been collected.

“We started bouncing ideas off each other,” she explained. “I thought of [selling] T-shirts for $15 each.

“Joe Madar made our T-shirts,” Kevin Monaghan said. He does all our Lynnville shirts and hats, everything, but we normally sell our shirts a lot cheaper.”

“Joe is heavily involved in charity events himself,” Melissa Monaghan said. “This is his eighth year doing his Crusade 4 Hope.

“The Slatington fundraising event, a motorcycle and classic car run, will be held on the same day we scheduled ours but people don’t need to stay for ours so they can go to both events.”

Melissa Monaghan is grateful for all the help she’s received.

“Megan [also] did a Facebook style go fund me page called Scott’s Recovery Fund and Tracy Dotter printed and laminated signs,” she said. “She’s helping me organize the baskets and do all the work behind the scenes.

“Megan is going to be the point person on that day.”

“Susan Heffelfinger is getting me donations and selling T-shirts,” said Melissa Monaghan.

“She does it for the fire company [so] she provides [experienced and] invaluable assistance.”

“The person who hit Scott should have turned himself in to provide some closure for his family,” said Melissa Monaghan. “His mom is such a nice person. I think she would forgive him [and] their insurance would have really helped.

“I hope that person doesn’t live in this community. If they do, karma is going to get him.”

According to Melissa Monaghan, Bender’s mother, April Partington, has been Bender’s greatest supporter.

“She updates his Facebook page every day. In the one post she wrote, ‘he’s getting better but it’s going to be a long process.’”

This is not the first time the Monaghans have extended a helping hand to an accident victim.

“We did this for someone else who got hit,” said Kevin. “If you know that people are down you pick them up. It’s just the right thing to do. If you know someone who is down and out, you just help them. That’s what you do in our area.”

“There are huge tragedies that make us feel small but there are small victories that make us feel huge,” Partington wrote on Facebook. The Monaghans’ hope Saturday’s fundraiser is one of those victories.