Healing And Helping A Part Of Recovering

A large turnout of people helped each other grief and heal, while helping the family impacted by the tragic deaths of the three Singletary brothers.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The tragedy that fell upon a New Sharon family has touched a community, and beyond.

That community, which stretched beyond the borders of New Sharon, took time out on Sunday to give a bit more of themselves, in an effort to help bring comfort to those around them, and ultimately to themselves.

On Sunday, those arriving at the Oskaloosa Care Center to share in the free-will luncheon had to be directed to a larger parking lot near the Oskaloosa Elementary School. They were then shuttled to the facility with the use of the MCRF trail trams.

The administration and staff are very familiar with the family of the three Singletary brothers who were lost in that tragic accident. Sara Hicklin, mother of the three brothers, works at Oskaloosa Care Facility has a Charge Nurse. She has helped to take care of the residents there since 2011.

Katy Landers, Assistant Director of Nursing at Oskaloosa Care Center, was working to help coordinate the silent auction. The nearly 96 auction groups were compiled from over 130 donations. Those donations came from businesses and individuals all over Mahaska County, Keokuk County and Marion County. Donations rolled in from Mahaska Drug, ISU, Iowa Speedway, Ajinomoto and several dozen other businesses.

The tragedy has pulled the staff and residents together at Oskaloosa Care Center, says Landers. “We’re really grateful for what we have. You never know when you’re going to lose it.”

With tears in her eyes, Landers said the days event would hopefully show, “the love of a family. The love of an employer family.”

For the residents at Oskaloosa Care Facility, Sunday was a very big deal for them as well. “They are very grateful we are doing this for her.”

Landers said that she was grateful for all the community supporters and “to everyone who helped make this possible”.

Tina Steffen, the Administrator at Oskaloosa Care Center, was busy on Sunday as well. You could find her behind the serving line, answering questions, and greeting people.

“We wanted to do a benefit for Sara [Hicklin]… It was the least we could do.”

Steffen returned to the serving line, where spaghetti with homemade sauce, a bread stick, salad, a drink and desert were served to those in line.

Steffen knows that the funds raised “won’t ever make up for the loss she [Sara] has had. It was the least we could do.”

“It’s been a hard week for us.” Tina added that the staff took it very hard, but has pulled together as a team, “and that’s how we were able to pull this off”.

Steffen added that none of it would have been possible without the support of the community and her board.

Steffen also gave a special thanks to the residents of Oskaloosa Care Center, who opened up their home to host the fundraiser event. “She touches their lives, and they wanted to touch hers back.”

“It was a loss for them,” added Steffen.

Often times, events like these serve as a way for those in the community to help themselves heal. Steffen agreed, “I think it’s a way we can grieve,” and help people pull together “and to realize we do care about each other and want to help each other as humans.”

“It makes us wake up as who we are as citizens, who we are as a community, and who we are as people.”

“There is not enough words to say thank you,” Steffen says about the support received.