In a refreshing show of generosity, a Phoenix family with six children, all on the autism spectrum, received a stunning gift—a brand-new swimming pool. This act of kindness came when their neighbor reached out to Jeff Ast, co-owner of Shasta Pools, noticing the family's existing pool needed significant repair.
As reported by AZfamily.com, the Mercers had been facing the challenge of renovating their inadequate swimming pool, which the children's father had started working on when their neighbor stepped in. This neighbor's empathy set the wheels in motion for a massive upgrade to the family’s quality of life. "It’s kind of like something you see on TV where it happens to other people. It doesn’t happen to us. We are incredibly grateful, it’s very humbling. Very grateful," Laura Mercer told AZfamily.com.
Jeff Ast, touched by personal experience with his autistic grandson, was moved to assist the Mercer family. "When I saw the family, I just knew we had to do something for this family," Ast said in a statement obtained by AZfamily.com. Shasta Pools quickly began work on the project, completing it for the Mercers free of charge in just over a week.
The new pool serves more than just a place for fun and relaxation. "Swimming for people on the spectrum is really helpful because it gives the body input. [It] helps them feel where their body is in space, so swimming is a great activity for our kids," explained Laura Mercer in a statement reported by Newz Pulses.
