Community generosity warms many this winter
They are only two of many people who now have warm clothes and gifts for the children for Christmas thanks to the Foundation’s Wish Tree.
Brittany Tarr and Tommy Kleever both received Christmas gifts through the Wish Tree which they otherwise would not have received.
Brittany’s daughter, Maggie, received new boots, just in time as winter weather stormed into the area last week.
“Brittany was giddy when I delivered her gifts,” Karen Hunt, her MSC, said. “She was so happy and especially grateful for the new boots for her daughter.”
Tommy, who lives in an upstairs apartment in Olean with his mother, has no car or job, and is often seen riding his bike through town.
“Tommy is an outdoors guy,” Karen, who is also Tommy’s MSC, said.
Tommy is appreciative of the warm hat and gloves he also received through the Wish Tree project of the Foundation.
“About 30 families were helped by the Wish Trees,” Elena Bombardier, development director, said.
“I would say more than 60 percent of the gifts requested were brought in by the community.”
The Foundation supplemented to ensure everyone received at least one or two items. In some cases the MSCs purchased gifts for the people they support because they knew what the people needed.
“Brittany has tiny feet, and we weren’t sure we’d be able to find shoes her size, but fortunately we did,” Karen said.
There are currently 18 MSCs, who have up to 42 people they support each month.
The Foundation is grateful to those who either donated online or purchased gifts and brought them to the Admin Building, Good Times of Olean, or the Olean YMCA.
“We are really appreciative of the community support,” Elena said, adding “we are overwhelmed with the generosity and spirit of giving and the community collaboration.
A special Thank You to all supporters, including many Agency staff members, the Olean YMCA, Good Times of Olean and Mastel Ford.
Through your gift of caring, Maggie has new boots, and other children have warm winter clothing and toys.
If you would like to support the great work of the ReHab Center, we wlcome any donatation which you can make on the Foundation’s web page at rehabcenter.org/foundation