RbA of Boise and Washington Brings Smiles to Families in Need During the Holidays

This holiday season the teams at Renewal by Andersen of Washington and Boise decided to support a pair of families in order to help them have a happier, more comfortable holiday and start the new year off a smile.

The Boise team partnered with Good Samaritan House, whose goal is to provide a home for those in need in the Boise area. The location selected Heather, a single mother, and her two children. Flyers were posted with the family’s needs and every single person in the Boise branch either donated money for gift cards or brought in something on the wish list.  

All together, the estimated total in gift cards was around $1,000 for food, groceries, gas, and home décor. Additionally, there was an estimated $3,000 in goods, including toys, personal care, home décor, towels, blankets, a table and chairs, and kitchenware. About a dozen employees and a volunteer Santa showed up on Saturday morning to load it all and deliver it to her home around the corner from the shop.

Meanwhile, in Washington, the team worked with Help-a-Family. The family they selected was a neighbor of Design Consultant Justin Morales. Ty and Carrie have a 6-year-old daughter, Ella, who was recently diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of cancer that has caused a tumor behind her right eye. Due to the location of the tumor, treatment is extremely difficult, and Ella and her parents would be spending six weeks in Seattle for specialized treatment at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Proton Therapy Center. They would also be going back and forth between there and the Children’s Hospital for both proton radiation and chemotherapy. 

When he heard about Ella's treatment, Justin brought their story forward to RbA Washington's Company Events Committee. From there the team stepped up to raise money in secret for her family. The employee contribution was just over $9,000, which was matched by a $10,000 donation from the company's ownership, for a total of $19,078.  

Additionally, the Washington team brought Ella a gift basket for Christmas, which was hand-picked for her by RbA Washington Project Manager Krys Weber. Inside were felt ornaments to decorate her treatment room, beads and unicorn charms for bracelets, a tote with iron-on patches and fabric markers, a robe and fluffy socks, and a planner with motivational quotes that her mother can help her put together to track her appointments.  

Thank you, Boise and Washington, for being Difference Makers!