By Betty Gandee
When one has a special talent and uses that talent for good, it warms your heart and soul.
Ashley Brooke Truman of Wallback has a passion for woodworking, and spends countless hours perfecting her craft. Ashley started woodworking about ten years ago as a hobby and to make things for her own home, and instantly fell in love with it and started making a variety of things out of wood for her customers. She says she started off making photo props for wedding and baby shoots and loved being a part of a family’s special day or seeing a piece of her work that ties a photo together. She takes pride in her work and her finished products are amazing.
Ashley has a calling to give back to the community and uses her skills to benefit those in need. After getting her name out there, Ashley has been asked to donate some of her pieces for many different causes; a princess on her way to a festival, a family that has lost their home, and school trips, just to name a few. She also made a wooden swing to benefit a memorial scholarship fund set up in honor of Kadie Truman. The funds raised from this swing raffle benefited the scholarship, memorial garden, and the Annual Easter egg hunt in Maysel, WV. She is always willing to donate and help any cause, without question. She says that when her own home burnt in 2014 there was so many that offered help that it changed her life. She didn’t realize how many people’s lives she had touched in the past and says the help came back to her tenfold and that she believes in good karma. The tragedy that her family endured was actually a blessing in disguise and changed her and her children’s lives.
Ashley’s most recent fundraiser is underway and helping to benefit Megan Cole. Megan is from Ivydale, WV and has recently being diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Ashley, along with her son Kendall Truman, has a goal of 100 scented wooden elephants to sell in order to help Megan.
Ashley says that Kendall has always been a kid with a huge heart and has always thought of everyone as equal. He knows how to make someone smile, even on their bad days and being kind is effortless to him. For that she is grateful. Kendal came to his mom and told her of a young classmate who was upset due to her mother receiving news that she had cancer. He then asked his mom to make an ornament for the girl to cheer her up. After searching for the perfect elephant design and getting his approval, she made a single ornament thinking he would take it to school to give to the girl. Instead Kendall got to thinking on ways to help. He then asked his mom to make more and help him sale them to give the proceeds to the family.
The elephants can be hung in your vehicle and come in a variety of scents to choose from. Scents include; blueberry cheesecake, lucky in love, hug in a mug, snowplace like home, apple cherry strudel, and Amazon rain. These ornaments are $6 for unscented and $7 for scented, and all of the proceeds go to Megan. You can find Ashley on Facebook to order or by stopping in at Kate’s home furnishings.
