How one EHT couple makes a difference in their community
By Krystle J Bailey
In 2018, Shore Local Newsmagazine featured Kathy Ford as our Hometown Hero following her crowning as Ms. Wheelchair New Jersey. The 37-year-old, who lives with a rare disease called Fibroplasia Ossificans Progressiva, hasn’t stopped making waves and changing the world since.
Kathy and her husband Chuck live their lives committed to doing good for the communities that they are a part of. From advocating for changed handicap laws to cleaning up their neighborhood, the Fords aim to inspire change, one act of kindness at a time.
Each year, Kathy celebrates her birthday by doing something kind for a stranger, often in the form of a larger-than-expected tip at a restaurant. In 2020 when Kathy and her husband Chuck were bound to their house amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, Kathy found herself at a loss on how to pay it forward for her July birthday. That’s when she and Chuck hit the street for a day of neighborhood cleanup that would ultimately become known as The Ford Beautification Project.
Starting with an office-sized garbage can in Kathy’s lap and Chuck at the wheelchair helm, the Fords began cleaning up Zion Park in Egg Harbor Township. The first filled trash can led to another, and the cleanup turned into a weekend-long project. The Fords enjoyed their neighborhood tidying so much that they decided to continue beyond Kathy’s birthday weekend.
Getting increasingly more clever, the powerhouse couple upgraded to a 13-gallon trash can and began attaching pull carts with additional trash and recycle bins to Kathy’s wheelchair. As word caught on, many local individuals asked how they could be involved. Kathy encouraged everyone to get active in their own neighborhoods, and if you see the Fords on the street, just beep in recognition.
Once the community started to pay attention, Kathy and Chuck began receiving recommendations for places in need of a cleanup. They collected 169 gallons of recyclables on Atlas Lane Road and multiple bags of trash on the bike path on Ocean Heights Avenue.
Since the start of their mission, the Fords have adopted two local roads and all of Zion Park through the ACUA. Blue signs that read “Litter Pick-up Provided by Ford Beautification Project” can be found scattered throughout Egg Harbor Township, where the Fords have spread their love.
Kathy Ford has been disabled since 1997 and works as an Atlantic City Police dispatcher. The rare condition that she lives with (FOP) causes the connective tissue in her body to progressively turn to bone. Without a cure or effective treatment for FOP, Kathy knew when she was 11 years old that a wheelchair would be imminent. At 37, Kathy’s body is frozen from head to toe, with the exception of her wrists, all 10 fingers, and eight of her toes. Kathy’s condition has empowered her to advocate for topics that make living life with a handicap more accessible and convenient. As Ms. Wheelchair New Jersey, Kathy uses her voice to speak up, encouraging lawmakers to ensure adequate space for handicapped parking spaces.
In addition to being Kathy’s full-time personal care assistant, Chuck Ford is the author of several children’s books that shine a light on individuals living with disabilities. Kathy’s personal story serves as the inspiration behind titles like “The Littles Turkey,” “Leonard the Lizard,” and “No Need to Fear When Darkness is Here.”
Keep up with the Fords on Facebook at The Ford Beautification Project.
