Making the Most of ‘The Dash’

The span between the dates of a person’s birth and death is sometimes described as “the dash” — a simple line that represents an entire lifetime. For some, the dash is long. For others, it is far too short. But for a life well-lived, that dash continues on in other ways.

A local nonprofit organization called McCrary’s Mission is carrying on the legacy of Hunter McCrary, a young man who made the most of his 16-year dash by being a helper, sharing his deep faith, and uniting a diverse range of people with little in common besides his friendship.

“What matters is your dash,” says Hunter’s mother, Crystal McCrary, who co-created and oversees McCrary’s Mission with her husband, Chad, and Hunter’s older brother, Jordan. “You don’t know what that in-between time is, so making the most of it and then helping others do the same is what we’re trying to do with McCrary’s Mission.”

Honoring Hunter’s Memory

In June 2022, soon after his sophomore year at North Jackson High School, Hunter was working on a car when a tragic accident took his life. Just after the accident, a family friend started a scholarship fund in Hunter’s name. Since then, more than 2 dozen high school seniors from throughout the region have received a share of $16,500 in scholarship funds and book grants made possible by donations to the Hunter McCrary Memorial Scholarship Fund, his mother says.

Then, as the summer of 2022 wound down, the family initiated the Sleep in Heavenly Peace Hunter McCrary Memorial Bed Build. In January that year, Hunter participated in the bed build sponsored by his church to benefit the South Pittsburg, Tennessee, chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace. The organization relies on volunteers to build twin beds that, along with essential bedding items, go to local children in need.

“He loved it and participated in every step of the process, and he said that he wanted to do it again,” McCrary says. “Of course, he couldn’t, but that’s how we started doing it, and he’s involved in all of it.” The past 3 memorial events, held in September in honor of Hunter’s birthday, have resulted in 130 beds built, plus donations of 80 mattresses, 147 sets of bedding and pillows, and $18,000.

McCrary says the community’s support in keeping Hunter’s legacy alive led the family to create McCrary’s Mission. “It was our wish to honor Hunter’s memory and continue to serve others for Christ as Hunter did,” she says. “Helping others through this nonprofit’s ministry helped us to find a purpose to this pain that we were feeling, to keep letting his light shine.”

‘A Servant’s Heart’

The family established McCrary’s Mission as a nonprofit in January 2024. “All the events we’ve had so far are things Hunter participated in and enjoyed helping with,” McCrary says. “Hunter was always willing to help anyone who needed it. You didn’t even have to ask, but he never wanted to be in the spotlight for doing so. When someone thanked him for his help, he would just smile that big grin, and those big brown eyes would sparkle. He had a servant’s heart, and his love language was serving others. He didn’t do it for recognition, he did it because that was a way he could share the love of Christ with others.”

The list of McCrary’s Mission outreach projects is long. The organization donated grief journaling kits to children who receive counseling at The Caring House in Huntsville. Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children received toys, games, and stuffed animals for young patients. Many bingo prizes have been provided and games played with local Cumberland Nursing Home residents, a place Hunter often visited growing up. More than 40 grief support books and resources for all ages were donated to the Stevenson Public Library. Hymnals were given to a new church built in Honduras.

Back-to-school clothing, shoes, and supplies are provided for local students. Cleaning and hygiene supplies are donated to families in need. Birthday blessing bags are given with supplies for making a birthday cake and other items children need throughout the year. Christmas cookie baskets are donated to foster families. Donations are made to Life Resource Center to help displaced individuals with meals and necessities.

c t iv i t i e s and more are made possible by donations and fundraisers, such as the recent drawing for a 2-night stay at the ReTreet Resort near Lake Guntersville and annual drawings for tickets to college football games. For information about upcoming events and ways to help, visit the McCrary’s Mission Facebook page or send by emailing McCrary’s Mission.