About 5,000 people each year seek emergency help through Polk County Family and Community Outreach — for example, to furnish a home after fleeing an abusive marriage.
Thanks to a conversation with West Valley CAO Bruce Rodgers, and director of Polk County Family and Community outreach Brent Demoe, an empty warehouse found a new purpose.
Don Wilder, Salem Health West Valley manager of facility operations, said partnering with Family and Community Outreach for a donation center made sense. The old warehouse on Uglow Street was empty.
“We were very impressed with how they manage their assets and the impact they’re making,” Wilder said. “This is exactly the kind of cause we were looking for.”
The new partnership formed the Community Outreach Donation Center and Salem Health staff contributed to drives to “stock” the warehouse. The partnership also allows West Valley to donate medical equipment such as exam tables, scales, walkers, wheelchairs or crutches, Wilder added.
This partnership is just one of the ways that Salem Health West Valley leadership has begun working with community leaders with the intent of partnering in new and innovative ways to help move the needle on population health.
All donations are tax-deductible. Anyone who needs help can seek it at one of Polk County’s family resource centers. The center can be reached at 503-623-9664, ext. 2125.
Read the full story in the Itemizer-Observer.