ROSEBURG, Oregon – The air is crisp in Douglas County this time of year. Leaves fall. Strings of lights begin to dot the rooftops. With winter comes the season of giving.
Wishes Come True, a project originally start by Roseburg’s Zonta Club, is now a community service project that belongs to the Umpqua Community College (UCC) chapter of Student Nursing Association. The project was created with the goal to offer gifts to nursing home residents that they would otherwise not receive.
Residents of these facilities are given a tag asking what they would like to receive, LaRae Coil, UCC’s Student Nursing Association President, said. Some of these residents don’t have family who are local or who come to visit them; they don’t get anything for Christmas. The point of the program is to provide everyone with something.
These gift tags are located on a tree at the Red Robin Restaurant in Roseburg on Stewart Parkway. The restaurant has generously provided the location for this project. Those wishing to purchase a gift for a retiree in the community can pick up the tags there, purchase the gift, and return the gift and tag attached to the tree at Red Robin. Gift requests vary in need, but in some cases, it can be as simple as a soft drink 12-pack.
Three local nursing homes are involved; Curry Manor, Rose Haven, and Umpqua Valley Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.
Coil explained why this project is so important to the Student Nursing Association, We get to be involved in the community and serve a population that we treat.
The tree will be up through Friday, Dec. 14. On that day, the nursing students will retrieve the gifts that have been donated, mark what has been purchased, and purchase the remaining gifts through any donations received.
If you would like to make a monetary contribution to Wishes Come True, please contact Larae Coil via email at: [email protected]
About Umpqua Community College
Nestled in the beautiful North Umpqua River Valley, Umpqua Community College is the regional center for higher education in Douglas County, Oregon. UCC provides high quality college degree programs, workforce development, and community learning opportunities.