BATESBURG-LEESVILLE, S.C. — A heartwarming update to a weekend fire at an assisted living facility in Batesburg-Leesville. 52 residents were relocated and many of them lost everything they owned. Now, community members have overflowed the facility with donations.
“At the drop of a hat when we need it, and we all come together to help each other,” Rosemary Knowlton said. She is one of those people who came when the hat dropped.
“The room is overflowing and everything is coming in faster than we can sort it.”
Hammie Robertson is the administrator at Generations of Batesburg assisted living facility. She says Knowlton is one of many who showed up as soon as EMS trucks cleared Saturday evening.
“Got her Sunday Morning people had already started bringing clothes, toiletries, just your basic items that you would need,” Robertson said.
Libby Newman is the pastor at Church of the Nazarene in Batesburg. She said she heard about the fire through Facebook and from there her church took action.
“I put a Facebook post out for folks to collect clothes for them and lots of people shared that post,” Libby Newman said.
While many have shown up already, there are still a few items that are needed.
“The one thing we hadn’t got a lot of right now are shoes from a 8 to maybe a 11, 12,” Hammie Robertson said.
She says even the smallest donation matters as these women lost even cosmetics like lotion.
“One of my residents told a lady a while ago just a tube of hand cream would be nice. The lady went out and brought it back,” Robertson said.
She said any donation can be accepted at Generations of Batesburg. The administrator also said they accept shampoo, toothbrushes, and toothpaste as well.