Ethan Legrand Helping Hands

08/30/2025

Today is shopping day!!! We will have sloppy joes, hot dogs, baked beans, parsley potatoes, pasta salad, chips, veggie trays, and cookies to feed everyone on September 13th starting at 3! Please come eat and visit us! Lots to do! The food is free!

08/30/2025

Here’s to the mom who just keeps going. 💛

She’s tired. She’s stretched thin. Her plate is overflowing.

But still—she shows up.

She holds her babies close. She makes the impossible happen.

Even when her body says, “I can’t.” Even when her mind whispers, “It’s too much.”

She does it anyway.

Not because she has to—but because her love is that deep.

Here’s to the strength she doesn’t even see. Here’s to the love that carries it all.

Here’s to you.

© Casey Huff

08/30/2025

08/29/2025

Something that has been working for me that I learned this week in therapy.....
~Make lists. Write it all down and get that STUFF out of your head...
It sounds silly but it's been helping me.
I am a forced relaxer. Meaning my husband physically has to remove me from my home if I want to relax. I am always thinking of my to do list. Something as simple as writing it down and crossing it off as I go has helped me relax a little more.

08/29/2025

08/29/2025

This ❤️

08/29/2025

“You’re so strong”

I’ve heard it so many times. Over and over again.

And most of the time, I smile and say thank you but just once I want to scream at the universe, “I’M SO TIRED OF HAVING TO BE STRONG!!”.

Because the truth is, I’m not strong. I’m merely surviving in a situation I didn’t choose to be in. I wasn’t equipped with the skills or mental toughness to endure losing my son. I wasn’t prepared to be thrown into battle without any armor.

I was blindsided. Caught off guard. There were no sirens warning me of this life-changing hell that was rushing towards me.

I blinked and when I opened my eyes, I was surrounded by darkness, lost in a storm that would forever change the landscape of my life.

I am surviving. And maybe I’m even carry it well but it’s heavy. The anger, the sadness, the anxiety, the fear. Together, they weigh me down daily.

But to the outsider, I appear strong. I appear to have strength that most do not have. It seems I’m charging through this gracefully, never stumbling.

But here is the secret, I am not strong. But what is strong, unbreakable even, is my love for my child. It is unconditional, unending and knows no boundaries. For my family, I will keep going every day. I will show up, ready to fight. I will not back down. I will endure the darkest of days to ensure they are never alone.

Because my love is strong. It never dies.
And nothing can break it.

So no, I am not strong. But my family gives me the strength to fight. They are the ones who are strong.

08/28/2025

Who are we? What do we do? I wanted to give a little bit of information about our goals this year. We are very new to this so bear with us. My husband and I have 9 children and are a blended family. We adopted 2 children and currently foster one. Almost one year ago, September 1st, our 20 year old son, Ethan , passed away from car accident injuries he sustained on August 25th. Our life was shattered. Slowly, we have been trying to put the pieces back together and move forward with Ethan's legacy accompanying us. Ethan was an Ironworker for Local union #3 and graduated from the Clarion County Career Center welding program in 2022. After this tragedy, Traci Wildeson gave me the idea of honoring Ethan by rewarding scholarships in his name. This truly keeps my blood flowing and my heart beating.I get excited and feel okay for periods of time because of the work we do for these kids. I admit I get manic at times and over do it, but I am very new to this. There is no training manual. My husband usually slows me down when this happens. Our soul intention is to pay it forward. Our main goal is to award scholarships to qualifying vocational seniors every spring in Ethan's honor. We are called Ethan Legrand Helping Hands because we strive to help children. If you know us at all, you know that it is in our DNA to do so. This year we have so many plans and new ideas. Clarion Limestone has teamed up with us this school year abd the pop tab collection now benefits our non profit organization!!! Along with awarding scholarships, we also want to give out something special at Christmas time for the students. We plan to donate to the Clarion-Limestone Giving Tree again this year . We also plan to attend all local parades and give out treats to all the kiddos. Our benefit will be on September 13th. We will have sloppy Joe's, hot dogs, sides, cookies, chips, bands, and entertainment. We do not expect anything in return. If you can donate to these students great, if not please join us to celebrate our son's life. We ask for nothing but happiness and good company. That's what Ethan gave to so many people. I hope everyone has the best school year ever.

08/28/2025

Every journey begins with a single step.

08/28/2025

So proud of our boy. ❤️

08/28/2025

This is amazing !!!❤️❤️❤️

08/27/2025

God I miss this boy. You don’t realize how long a week is until something takes your heart from you. A year has flew by but the days are at a stand still. I would give anything for another day with my beautiful, smiling son.