Food and clothing drive underway at Blackwell Hospital

by Charles Gerian

Stillwater Medical- Blackwell and The Source Blackwell are teaming up this November to help out Blackwell’s Associated Charities by hosting a clothing and food drive through the month with drop off locations in the Stillwater Medical lobby and Crowned Hair Salon on Main.

The donation drive is accepting unexpired or unopened canned goods, boxed dinners, cereal, shelf stable milk, canned meat, and personal care items.

They are also accepting winter items including hats, coats, blankets, and gloves in all sizes new or lightly used.

Danen Everly, Executive Assistant and Medical Staff Coordinator at Stillwater Medical- Blackwell stated that Stillwater Medical always makes an effort to give back to the community, and that this year’s drive was no exception to the hospital’s continued spirit.

“We are a community-first hospital with a community-first staff,” said Everly, “Tammy Parr and The Source Blackwell saw a need within Associated Charities and acted on it.”

Stillwater Medical - Blackwell Case Manager Tammy Parr said that she was excited about the collaboration with The Srouce Blackwell and praised Tiffany Coggins and Tia Santos for helping to organize the drive.

“Associated Charities told us they were in desperate need as the holidays approach,” said Parr,” a few days after she told us that, this drive was organized.”

Parr continued, saying that while the drive will be on-going through November, they won’t simply be letting the goods pile up in the donation box.

“We will regularly be taking the donated items to the food bank to get them out to those in need as soon as possible,” she said, “anything and everything helps, and we are eager to help Associated Charities as well as the people of Blackwell that need these goods and items.”

For those wondering what exactly The Source is and why Stillwater Medical - Blackwell is joining forces with them for this drive, one of the groups founders Tia Santos broke it down:

The Source is a place of love, kindness, and acceptance, according to the group’s statement on Facebook.

100 strong so far, it is “a group created to give help that outflows to serve our community needs. This group has been created as community outreach and if we are not able to help you we will use our resources to find a way in love to fill the need.”