How a CT town and its first responders are rallying to help a boy with ‘a million dollar smile’

There is nothing but love behind Gavin Anderson’s big smile.

And now, the East Windsor community is rallying around the 10-year-old and his family with an equal amount of love.

The family is Kate and Colin Anderson and their three children, including Gavin and his twin brother, Spencer, and their 12-year-old sister, Bailey.

Gavin has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and is non-mobile and non-verbal and the Anderson home needs major — and very expensive — renovations to make the house more comfortable for him, his family said. East Windsor’s two firehouses, Police Department and the town’s EMS department learned of the need and have joined forces for “Gavin’s Home Makeover Pasta Dinner” benefit to be held at the Warehouse Point Fire Department on Sunday, April 28, at 89 Bridge St.

Among the renovations needed at the Anderson home are: ramps on the front and back of the home so Gavin can easily and safely enter/exit the house in addition to having more than one exit in case of an emergency; creating an ADA compliant bathroom and installing a lift/track system to move him from what will become his bedroom to the bathroom; creating a space in the kitchen for him to play and explore, as well as room to store Gavin’s equipment, including a gate trainer for walking and his wheelchair.

“We’ve had three or four different quotes that are all over $100,000 to do everything we need,” Kate Anderson said.

The Anderson’s broke ground in September on the renovations and they have been ongoing. Anderson said that, even with donations, the family will still likely owe between $80,000 and $85,000. She’s hoping all work will be done by the end of the summer.

Workers are customizing an island in the kitchen for Gavin to sit with his gate trainer or wheelchair to wash his hands at the sink or do arts and crafts.

“The current kitchen is being gutted and will become the bathroom,” Anderson said. “Doors are being widened and all the wood is coming out and being replaced with tile.

“The most expensive part is pulling down the ceiling to reinforce a lift to move Gavin from the bedroom to the bathroom, so we don’t have to carry him. The lift will be helpful as he gets bigger,” she said. “The lift is a game changer for us. We still have to do the front and back ramp, so he has multiple ways of getting into the house.”

Phase II of the improvements includes making the house “smart” to sync him up with Alexa or Google Home.

“He will be able to interact and control his own environment,” Anderson said. “He can turn off or on the TV or turn the lights on or off. Right now, he has to wait for one of us to do that.”

Anderson said Gavin loves to float around in the family pool and loves bubbles, music, playing with friends and family arts and crafts and going on walks with the family’s two dogs. Gavin also has a tricycle.

Kate Anderson said the support from the town has been amazing.

“They are being superheroes in different ways now,” Anderson said. “It’s been amazing to get our town and surrounding towns and businesses to rally around Gavin and this renovation – which is extremely expensive with time and materials.”

“This pasta dinner helps so much, and you won’t understand it unless you are in this situation,” Anderson said. “When you are purchasing a home, it doesn’t come with wheelchair accessibility. There wasn’t a home out there that met everything we needed for every person in the family. Having a fundraiser like this raises awareness.”

The mom said Gavin “is well loved by everyone who knows him.”

“He has a million dollar smile that lights up a room every time he enters,” Kate Anderson said. “He gets to be included in a lot of things. A lot of kids out there aren’t included for one reason or another. We are hoping to bring general awareness.”

Anderson said Gavin’s siblings are protective of their brother and keep him included in whatever they do.

“They make sure kids that aren’t as familiar with Gavin or someone with a wheelchair and bring them over to introduce him to other kids,” Anderson said. “They are trying to teach other kids and that he is another kid and will respond to you. They are very much supporters and cheerleaders for him as well.”

Kate Anderson said she wants everyone in the community to come out and meet Gavin.

“Part of it is awareness. The other part of it is when we go out there is a lot of staring. He’s not an anomaly. He’s a happy kid and loves to be around people. Just because he doesn’t talk. It doesn’t mean there isn’t someone in there that will respond. We want to make sure people will come,” Anderson said.

“When he sees the firefighters, he wants to jump out of his chair,” she added. “He smiles and makes noises and is very interactive when they all come see him. You never have to guess what he’s feeling because he’s so expressive.”

East Windsor’s Sofia’s Restaurant is donating pasta and sauce for the event. East Windsor’s Pickle Jar Deli is providing meatballs. These are two of the 27 sponsors for the event. There will also be raffle prizes.

Jill Caron, the administrative assistant at the Warehouse Point Fire District, said the organizing process started in January when first responders met with Gavin and his family.

“He’s the happiest little boy you will meet,” Caron said. “The support has been overwhelming both inside and outside of East Windsor.”

Warehouse Point firefighter Heather Mitchell said it’s exciting that all four first responder agencies in town are coming together for a cause.

“We are using our firehouse and pulling out the fire trucks and we are used to putting on large events,” Mitchell said. “So many businesses in town have stepped up and we are very lucky. We are lucky to be in East Windsor. Everyone is working together to make this a success for the Anderson family.”

Caron said the goal is to raise $15,000 and said there will be a touch-a-truck with ambulances, police and fire vehicles outside of the Warehouse Point station.

“So many people are already giving,” Caron said. “We got handed a $500 check from Broad Brook Fire Department. All four of the East Windsor first responder organizations provided $500 apiece as well. So many people are pulling up not only to buy tickets but to give donations. The past couple of weeks we’ve had so many people pop in.”

The Andersons will be at all three separate dinner seatings on Sunday. Each seating can hold 100-125 people and will include pasta, salad, meatballs, rolls and dessert. The first wave is from noon to 2:30 p.m., the second is 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and the last wave is 5 to 7 p.m. Takeout is also available. Tickets are $20 each.

Walk-ins are welcome. About 200 seats of the 560 total available were sold as of Wednesday afternoon. No one will be turned away. To buy tickets in advance, visit https://www.whpfd.org/.