Benefits set for injured child
Mark Lindsay
Sunday, July 25, 2026

It's been more than two months since Jared Feathers suffered serious internal injuries in a freak, backyard accident.

The 4-year-old Feathers was doing what little boys like to do. Running around the yard, being a kid.

His father, Paul Feathers, was mowing their Ransomville lawn on a large riding lawnmower and, somehow, Jared got in his path.

He was taken by Mercy Flight to Women and Children's Hospital in Buffalo, where he spent the next couple of months undergoing several surgeries to repair the massive intestinal injuries.

He came home Monday, but his grandfather said the recovery will take time.

"There's still a lot of internal healing to do yet,” Louis Wiepert said.

Considering the tragic circumstances of the incident, Wiepert said he has one question when people ask how Paul Feathers is holding up.

“How would you feel if you did it?” Wiepert asked.

He said he could not ask for a better husband for his daughter or a better father for his grandson.

David Mongielo owns Auto Specialties, 6172 S. Transit Road, and doesn't know the Feathers. Mongielo heard about the family’s financial situation through a friend who works with Wiepert and wanted to help. As is often the case in instances where extensive medical care is needed, the insurance company doesn’t cover everything.

“It just upsets me that insurance companies play these games,” Mongielo said. Mongielo is closing his doors for the day Saturday and offering the use of his lot for a fund-raiser for the Feathers family.

A car wash, done by a local church group, hot dogs, hamburgers and refreshments will be available.

“You do what you can to help,” Mongielo said.

Wiepert said the people of Ransomville have also stepped to the plate, though it doesn't surprise him.

“Ransomville is a very understanding, giving, loving community,” Wiepert said. “They’re giving when the times are tough.”

Wiepert's friend and co-worker, Mike Jacus, said seeing what the family has gone through spurred him to act. He has taken collection jars to various businesses to solicit donations from the public.

“It’s just being there for a friend,” Jacus said.

One of those collection jars was dropped off at Mongielo's business and triggered the idea in his head for something bigger. He said a group in Newfane held a car wash in his lot after he closed for the day and raised about $300. By shutting down for the whole day, he said he thinks they can raise even more than that.

On Aug. 15, the community is holding a benefit for Jared at the 3-F Club in Youngstown, complete with a Chinese Auction, raffles, food and refreshments. Wiepert said the donations have been pouring in and he expects about 100 different items will be up for auction.

Doctors are optimistic that Feathers will make a full recovery with only limited lifetime disabilities.

“A lot of prayers have been answered on that,” Wiepert said. He called Jared’s homecoming Monday a "very emotional and happy day.”

Though he is still under the watchful eye of a doctor, Jared is up and about and "very alert," his grandfather said.


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