We are family: Here’s how you can help

You can help Asante employees affected by wildfires have a happier holiday – and a more comfortable stay in their temporary digs at the new Asante Employee RV Park.

Donations of new nonstick pots and pans, plain-colored bath and kitchen towels, sleeping bags, pillows, clothing, toys, gift cards, RV toilet paper and other items are needed for the 120 families affected by the devastating Almeda and Obenchain fires of Sept. 8.

“Truly, giving is better than receiving during this season,” says Julie Hale, Asante director of Support Services. “The fire victims have been through so much and now face the enormous task of rebuilding their lives. This program can assist in that process.”

Some of the employees and their families will be moving into Asante’s new, 32-space RV park in the next few days. Slightly used RVs purchased by Asante are expected to arrive this week at the park, located in a large field Asante owns at East Barnett Road and Golf View Drive. Asante will keep the park open until March 2023 so employees have time to rebuild or find new homes.

There are two ways to help:

• Departments can adopt families for the holidays. Asante’s Hands and Hearts will match up the departments with families based on size (the largest departments adopting the larger families, for example) and provide details on the makeup of the families, suggestions for gifts and where the family members are registered for gift purchases.
• Individuals can help Asante families with immediate needs or for the holidays, too. Hands and Hearts can connect donors to the families, arrange the pickup of gifts and accept gifts at its office across from Administration at Asante Rogue Regional.

To help either as a department or as an individual, email

vo*******@as****.org











.

Volunteers have been calling Asante employees affected by the fires to learn what their needs are and what would make their holidays a little brighter.

“We have a wants and needs list and a blessings list of people who are donating items, and we’ll be matchmaking those two lists,” says Lorry Shlitter, Volunteer Services supervisor. “If we get more help than the fire-affected families need, we’ll reach out to other families within Asante or beyond who could use a little help this holiday season.”