Kirby, from Banner Lassen Medical Center. -photo provided
Inspired to help the most vulnerable population in the Susanville community, Banner Lassen Medical Center recently donated 10 mattresses to Crossroad Ministries, a nonprofit organization that provides resources such as transitional housing, homeless assistance and food services to Lassen County.
The new mattresses will help the local shelter and food bank center provide additional beds to those in need.
When a group of medical center employees and regular volunteers at Crossroad Ministries discovered the increased demand for shelter beds during cold overnight temperatures, Aileen Chandler, chief nursing officer at Banner Lassen Medical Center, and her team took action.
“We found out that when nighttime temperatures hit the teens and lower, the shelter begins to fill up,” Chandler said. “With the growing number of homeless seeking warmth from freezing conditions, we decided to help this vital community resource.”
The mattresses were paid for through a combination of personal donations from six Banner Lassen Medical Center staff members and a community benefit donation from the hospital. The mattresses were delivered February 18th to Crossroad Ministries and are already in use.
“They are so grateful to receive the new bedding and be able to allow another 10 people a warm and safe place to sleep at night,” Chandler said.
Crossroad Ministries serves about 500 meals each week, provides emergency and transitional housing as well as community outreach and Bible study at the Adult Detention Facility.
