Local residents are getting a helping hand from Santiam Service Integration Team members in response to the state governor’s call to stay at home.
“Our volunteers have gone shopping for those who have the funds to purchase the groceries but cannot leave the house to shop,” said Melissa Baurer, SIT coordinator. “They have also gone shopping with donated community funds specific for SIT MOBILE and delivered to households when they need specific items that SIT MOBILE office doesn’t have stocked, and they cannot afford the items.”
Operating from donated space at Ditter’s Square since April 2, SIT MOBILE also has household items such as diapers, wipes, Depends, adult wash cloths, barrier cream, hygiene items, dental supplies, toilet paper, cleaning products, Ensure, and food items. SIT drivers deliver to the doorstop of people who call in needing help. Partnering with local police departments, SIT volunteers also deliver prescriptions throughout the Santiam Canyon.
“[W]e helped today a couple who has one child and both of them have had reduced work hours due to COVID,” Bauer added. “Through the conversation we found out they needed a dining room table, and we were able to find a donated one.”
SIT has received requests from people needing medical over-the-counter supplies to help with food to toiletries to shoes. Requests come by phone call, text or email, and once a request comes in, Baurer and a SIT MOBILE volunteer put the request together.
“If it involves a shopper, we will call our list of volunteers who are willing to shop,” Baurer said. “Once the items are ready to deliver, we have about 25 SIT mobile drivers who are ready to go. These are community members ranging from high school students to retired individuals to groups like Knights of Columbus to hospital staff who want to help out. They pick up the items from the SIT MOBILE office and deliver to the doorstep.”
Santiam SIT has drivers ready to drive to Idanha, Detroit, Mill City, Gates, Lyons, Mehama, Stayton, Sublimity, Turner, Aumsville and Salem, if they are patients of Santiam Hospital. Baurer said SIT is fortunate to have an abundance of volunteers, and she wants to give everyone a chance to drive and deliver.
“Our drivers are completely volunteer, do this on their own time, and do not get reimbursed for gas,” Baurer said. “This is their contribution. We are very grateful!”
Colleen Bradford, coordinator for Community Partnership, DHS/Self Sufficiency Programs, Marion and Polk counties, has “really enjoyed being a volunteer of SIT MOBILE.”
“This is what we do, Bradford said. “We help people when they need it. We are all in this together. We do what we need to do!”
Zoey Goodwin volunteers to drive, grocery shop, and take items to the SIT team that people donate. She wanted to actively help people through this season of hardship.
“Some people have not been as fortunate as me during this time,” Goodwin said. “I knew that I wanted to do what I could to help those people. I have helped mothers, elderly and people that are unable to leave their homes. It has been a really good experience doing this and to hear all of the good feedback makes me glad I chose to help.”
The Miller mother-and-daughter team has turned helping neighbors into a family outreach.
“My daughters and I are among many community-minded citizens who have said ‘Yes, I can and I will’ help my neighbors,” said Nicole Miller. “We are so grateful to Santiam Hospital and its Service Integration Team for quickly putting together this vital community service for our entire region.”
Baurer said people who use SIT have only provided positive feedback: “OMG you guys are the best!” to “The service you provide is awesome and greatly appreciated!”
“A mom in Sublimity said ‘thank you from the bottom of my heart, thank you for the diapers, wipes, toilet paper, kids books and ball … made my kids smile,’” she said. “Another Stayton Family sent us this for our driver, ‘We truly appreciate you and wanted you to know that you were a blessing today.’”
Baurer said SIT needs help spreading the word to seniors and those with weakened immune systems that volunteers are “here to help and ready to serve our community.”
“We want people to know that they can text or email if they feel awkward calling,” she said. “We know asking for help sometimes is hard. We are here for people!”
Donations needed include: cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, feminine products, Preemie diapers, toothbrushes, dental floss, and/or monetary donations to purchase necessary supplies at a discount rate through local vendors.
Santiam SIT thanks United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley, Maps Credit Union, city of Sublimity, Ditters Town Square, Stayton Cooperative Telephone Company for their help.
“We are also very thankful and appreciative of the multiple community members who have sent in cash or dropped by and donated supplies,” Baurer said.
For more information about, call 503-409-3652 or email SITMOBILE@santiamhospital.org.
