Just after wildfires left a path of destruction through several Oregon forests and communities, hospitals quickly mobilized to help the victims, many of whom are their own employees.
In southern Oregon, Asante and Providence rallied to help victims of the Almeda Fire with aid to individuals who lost homes and possessions. Asante is having an RV park built on property it owns and will buy used fifth wheel trailers for displaced employees to live in until they can find permanent homes. The cost to the employees is expected to be $500 per month or less.
Providence has created fifth wheel trailer parking on land it owns in Central Point and Medford.
Both systems say a broad range of employees lost homes, including nurses and food service workers. Asante says more than 100 employees were affected, and Providence says they had 200 across the state.
Fires in Marion and Lane counties also produced dozens of victims.
In response, volunteers from Kaiser Permanente Northwest worked alongside folks from the Red Cross Cascades Region to pack 500 wildfire cleanup kits in Silverton. KPNW also donated $300,00 to the effort.
Fires ravaged the Santiam Canyon, and Santiam Hospital in Stayton has been at the center of efforts to help the victims. A fund organized by the hospital’s Service Integration Team (SIT) has assisted two resource centers in the area providing food, clothing, toiletries, gas cards, and pet and livestock feed.
Santiam Hospital has helped raise more than $1.7 million as part of the Santiam Canyon Wildfire Relief Fund.
Providence has donated $100,000 to wildfire relief, divided among non-profit service agencies in Clackamas County and southern Oregon. Asante’s Wildfire Compassion Fund has raised about $125,00 so far, with donations coming in from all over the country.
Our health care heroes still need our help. In addition to the other efforts mentioned, we have set up a fund to help them. The OREF Health Care Heroes Relief fund is also accepting donations.