It’s a motto which is simple, yet powerful and that may be all that’s needed for the Helping One Woman (HOW) Oakdale Chapter group of ladies.
The HOW Motto reads: “One woman with $10 can buy another woman lunch. Ten women with $10 can buy another woman’s groceries. One hundred women with $10 can make a real difference in another woman’s life.”
On Wednesday, Aug. 20 that was elevated as well over 140 women (and men) gathered at the Oakdale Event Center in support of August recipient Tiffany Trunnell. Through $10 donations at the door, raffle prizes, as well as silent auction items, a total of over $12,000 was raised for Trunnell.
Trunnell’s son Jett, 14, was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of Osteosarcoma. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment to battle the disease in Amarillo, Texas where his father resides. Trunnell, along with her family, are now faced with the expense of consistent travel to be at her son’s side, and she flew back from Texas to attend the Wednesday night event.
Following dinner, as well as the raffle and silent auction, Trunnell offered sincerest thanks to the attendees, as well as gave an update.
Earlier that day the mother of four had learned that the most recent MRI showed a spread from Jett’s hip to his pelvis, which caused doctors to stop his 48-hour chemotherapy. At the time of the event, consideration was given to a five-day treatment protocol to stop the spread.
“It’s expensive,” Trunnell shared of the constant plane travel, noting that she would be returning to Texas for the next round of treatment.
While the nature of the fundraiser may present as heavy, the energy in the room was anything but. Family, friends and community members at large were in a festive spirit showing their support for Trunnell.
HOW organizers addressed the group and asked for those who did not know Trunnell to please stand. Less than a handful stood in response. Traditionally, 80 percent of HOW attendees don’t know the recipient; Wednesday was different.
“Normally these dinners are filled with people the recipient doesn’t know,” Melissa DeSignori shared. “This wasn’t the case for Tiffany. This is a true testament to the person Tiffany is and how God is always on time.”
DeSignori nominated Trunnell as the August HOW recipient. She, along with a crew of friends and family, were busy securing raffle and silent auction items ahead of the event, as well as selling raffle tickets the night of the event.
“When she received Jett’s diagnosis her close family and friends were all committed to doing whatever we could to help her under the rare circumstance of Jett being diagnosed away from town,” DeSignori said. “This was a blessing for the family to see our small town come together and support them.”
And come together they did.
Silent raffle items included: multiple tables of baked goods, local restaurant experiences, pet packages, candles, wine and maple trees. There was indeed something for everyone.
“It takes a village and Tiffany has been blessed with an amazing one,” DeSignori said of Trunnell’s family and friends. “HOW Oakdale did a wonderful job supporting the team, advertising and doing a lot of background work.”
