When Richland County Children Services employees read about the Sean Putt family, they decided to take action and raise money to assist the family. The result was a $500 donation to help the family defray expenses stemming from the youngster’s ongoing medical treatments.
That act was consistent with part of the agency’s vision statement, which reads RCCS will work to see that “all children develop their full potential by having all physical, emotional, educational, cultural, spiritual, developmental and special needs met.” They also envision a community that invests in the future of its children by providing services to families.
When staff members read in the Richland Source about the St. Peter’s third grader who suffers from a rare form of ITP (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura), a disease where his body doesn’t produce enough platelets, their response was, of course, to reach out.
Carl Hunnell, the agency’s supervisor of public information and outreach, profiled the Putts in the agency’s weekly employee newsletter.
“Our agency’s Staff Enrichment committee spoke to RCCS Executive Director Patty Harrelson and she agreed to allow employees to wear blue jeans each Monday during February if the employee also donated $5 to a bank account set up in the child’s name. We are calling it ‘Saving for Sean’ and we would love to challenge other local agencies or businesses to do something similar,” Hunnell said at the time.
During the three Mondays the agency was open during February (closed on Presidents Day), agency employees donated $500.
Agency employees are now raising funds in a similar fashion to again sponsor a girls’ softball team through Mansfield Southwest Little League.
