EASTHAMPTON — When Jae Couture started working at Big E’s Foodland more than four years ago, she and Billy Dixon became fast friends.
Dixon, who was born with Down syndrome, came over and hugged Couture as soon as they met.
“He stole my heart immediately,” she said. “I was like, ‘Oh my God,’ he came over and gave me a hug. … He just loves everybody.”
“Everyone loves him,” she added.
Take a recent fundraising effort as evidence.
Couture said she started a GoFundMe page a week ago so that she and Dixon could go on a Disney cruise this Halloween. She wrote that it would be the trip of a lifetime for Dixon, 55, who has never strayed too far from Easthampton in his adult life.
She said he’s a big fan of Disney. Dixon said he’s a fan of “Star Wars,” “Jaws” and other action movies, too. Couture and Dixon sometimes go on trips to Six Flags in Springfield.
In just seven days, about 200 donors have pitched in more than $6,000 — surpassing the goal — so that Dixon could go on the special cruise.
Couture said she is leaving the fundraising page open in hopes that enough people chip in so Dixon’s mother, Christina Yarra of Easthampton, can come along. The cruise in October will start in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Couture said, with stops in the Cayman Islands, Jamaica and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Couture said tickets for the two of them will cost $3,500. She arrived at the $6,000 figure after factoring in airfare, expenses for stops at the islands and other travel costs, she said.
Donations from loyal Big E’s customers have trickled in.
“Billy’s smile and kindness make my day every time I shop at Big E’s!!” one donor wrote.
“Have a wonderful time and Thank you for always being so nice when I would see you at Big E’s!” said another.
Dixon said he’s worked at Big E’s for 21 years.
“I like Big E’s,” Dixon said, adding that he likes his co-workers and the customers.
Dixon has an interesting backstory. He was born in Scotland and when his mother wanted to bring him to the United States in 1972 to unite with her new husband, Joseph Yarra, the couple faced a mountain of paperwork.
(The couple’s last name is Yarasazych but they are known around Easthampton as the Yarras.)
According to a 1972 Gazette article, the main obstacle seemed to be Dixon’s Down syndrome.
Because of this, “he would not be allowed to enter this country,” the article said. After a series of calls to different groups for help, and after the couple reached out to several local groups, they “finally contacted Sen. Edward Kennedy and told him of their plight,” the article said.
“Kennedy helped tremendously,” Christina Yarra said at the time.
This trip overseas will feature a lot less stress.
Jack Suntrup can be reached at jsuntrup@gazettenet.com.