Gillett community responds to family in need

By: 
Warren Bluhm
Editor-in-chief

The Gillett police chief — and a grateful family — are thanking the community for its help in making sure some deserving children had a nice Christmas.

Chief Shane Breitenbach said the department received a letter from an 8-year-old child who lives in the city, asking if someone could help their family during the Christmas season.

“This particular family has been struggling with severe health issues with several members of the family, including the child’s mother,” Breitenbach told the Gillett City Council in his monthly report Jan. 5.

He posted a call for help on Facebook on Dec. 17, posting the boys’ clothing sizes and asking for any other donations as well.

“The outpouring of love and support for the family was incredible,” Breitenbach said. “On Dec. 23, with the assistance of Gillett Area Ambulance, we delivered all the donations just in time for Christmas. I’m humbled by the wonderful response by the community. I’m very grateful that we were able to play a small part in making this Christmas season all the more special for this family.”

Breitenbach also read a thank-you letter from the boy’s mother.

“There’s no way that I can thank you all for making my son’s wish come true. I recently was just in the hospital and have been in nonstop to fight everything, especially sepsis infections and other illnesses,” she wrote, adding that the community made her boys cry, “because they didn’t think that they were getting any Christmas presents, and they both just wanted me to focus on getting better. I just want to say thank you for surprising my baby boys, and I’m going to fight this, no matter how many surgeries, blood tests, IVs or etc. this takes.”