Posted: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 4:00 pm
To the editor:
I want to share my appreciation for Dr. William Robertson of Samaritan Orthopedics in Lebanon.
He surprised his staff on his 66th birthday with a check for $1,000 and a request to pick a charity to send it to.
This gift truly couldn't have come at a better time. The clinic staff was extremely excited and appreciative of his gift. We all decided that FISH of Lebanon, a local nonprofit focused on providing emergency food, clothing and utility assistance, was going to be the recipient of this generous contribution.
Dr. Robertson's surprise came several weeks before a local article ran in the Albany Democrat-Herald highlighting the high need for food this holiday season and a supply too low to meet the increased demands.
According to the article, a record 10,132 Linn County individuals received food from emergency food boxes in October, compared to 7,480 the same month in 2007, a 35 percent increase.
Our hope is that this contribution will provide some relief and benefit those in need in our community.
Kim Vaughan
Clinic manager