Tillamook County Secret Angels

03/20/2020

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Nancy Bogle.
Nancy died the morning of March 16th from complications brought on by a bad case of the flu.
The Tillamook County Secret Angels was Nancy’s brain child which the community helped turn into a reality, neighbors helping neighbors. Due to her untimely death the Secret Angels is being handed over to their umbrella organization to TEAM Tillamook and will no longer be accepting applications for assistance. If you would like more information regarding Team Tillamook please contact.

Tillamook Christian Center
Pastor Terry Sprenkel
701 Marolf loop rd Tillamook or 97141
1-503-842-6555

11/07/2019

The holiday season is here, and with it, requests from 24 families for assistance with meals and help covering those bills that climb during the winter months.

Holidays are a great time for many families to get together, but for those who are without funds to travel, nor the means to set aside a little each month to make a festive table for Thanksgiving, much less a nice Christmas for their children, the winter holidays can be a time for anxiety and depression. Last year we were able to help just over 20 families enjoy meals and time with their children thanks to the gifting of so many Secret Angels.

This year, we have already had single parents asking if there will be any assistance with a holiday meal or a few gifts for the children, but we have no answers until the funding begins making its way to us. Then there are the added issues of helping families cover their rent, utilities and for several mothers who work outside the home and have to pay childcare, how to cover the care needed when the winter breaks come about and when students are home from school needing meals that are federally subsidized while in school, but not filling the cupboard when the children are home.

Should you feel lead to assist, funds can be deposited directly in the Tillamook County Secret Angel account at the Manzanita Branch of Columbia Bank, or send through PayPal via our e-mail address [email protected], or mailed to TCSA, P.O. Box 208, Nehalem, OR 97131. We also have a home at 36050 9th Street in Nehalem (just to the left when you turn to go up toward the Recreation District) and items may be left in the front foyer, or checks slipped under the door.

Remember that ANY amount is a blessing. If it covers a gallon of milk, or a dozen eggs, even the gravy packet for the turkey someone sends home as a bonus at Mom's place of employment -- every little bit is a welcome gift!

04/14/2019

Her baby was not blessed with a healthy body. Miraculously she was birthed nearly a month and a half too early, brought "home" to a drafty garage her mother and four older siblings shared with her -- subleted through her aunt who had a larger family of her own crammed into poor housing conditions -- and yet she has survived. She has survived numerous bouts with bacterial infections, viruses her brothers have brought home from sneezing and coughing classmates, and spent countless hours in the emergency rooms and hospital stays at our local facilities and those in Portland. And yet, the little one is a survivor.

Last year she was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, a irritable bowel syndrome that attacks the colon and leaves her mother trying to handle a bowel that drains nutrients like a faucet. The only job the mother could do so she could stay with a 24-hour care child, was childcare, but when she has to close it down for times when the family is ill, or she has to take the little one to Portland, Mother loses not only income, but often clients who need more dependable care for their children.

Currently Mother is behind on her rent and needs to know she can take her baby to Portland for monthly check-ups and exploratory surgeries. It would also help to have size five disposable diapers and Baby Wipes. If you feel called to assist with housing, or putting funds on a card for the expense of trips and dietary needs that challenge the SNAP allotment, funds can be put directly into the Tillamook County Secret Angel account at the Manzanita Branch of Columbia Bank, or sent via PayPal to [email protected], or mailed to TCSA, P.O. Box 208, Nehalem, OR 97131. Rental needs are currently at $350 and monthly travel, Over-the-counter meds and special diet are running at a rate of $200 a month.

Found a good sale on diapers and wipes? Gift in Kind may be left in the front foyer of the Bogle's address at 36050 9th Street in Nehalem. On your way to the Rec. District. God bless you for your interest in helping a neighbor in need.

UPDATE ......
Once school started the siblings began bringing home flu germs that our little one was unable to fight. She became so ill that she flipped into seizures and had to be life flighted to Portland, not knowing if her little body would be able to handle anymore. In the process of trying to fight the viruses, she caught Cdiff which a dangerous illness that usually comes from a resistance to antibiotics that have been used time and time again. After days and days in the hospital, she was finally released, but only to come home to a house filled with anxiety as mother had been out of work for so long she didn't have the means to pay the bills.

After borrowing from family, begging creditors to hold off and finding some help through us, she was able to get the situation righted enough to see that the toddler got to daily IV treatment morning and evening. Unfortunately the funds ran out to afford travel to and from Portland and she has now missed several much needed check-ups and labwork to secure that her follow-up is coming along. Help from the Secret Angels would be a welcome answer to a frightened and worried mother.

02/03/2019

Please remember that Tillamook County Secret Angels is not just a holiday agency -- we help with year-round issues, whether they need a temporary fix, or a month-to-month helping hand.

Family 190001 has five children being raised by a single mother. She works by doing childcare out of her home, therefore she often has to close down her work in order to care for a what we call a "hot house baby" who catches everything that walks through the door. The youngest was premature when she arrived a little over a year ago and has been fighting celiac disease the entire 15 months of her short life. It is not a pleasant disease and keeps the mother on her toes with special diets, special meds and a constant need for diapers, cleansing wipes, creams and skin medications that are often not cover by her OHP plan.

The family needs fuel, over-the-counter supplies from the pharmacy and funds for quick stops at MacDonalds or one of the hospital cafes when she has to wait out overnight trips and extra hours in the waiting room between labwork.

Family 190002 saved every picture she could get this last Christmas. Each grandchild and greatgrand came to visit and pick up their candy cane -- the little pleasure she could still afford after relinquishing her job to care for her husband on hospice through the holiday season. The day after Christmas ended her day-after-day dedication to his needs, his expenses, and finding him help and services. The final helping hand arrived two days after his death on December 26th -- concerned donors gave over $1400 . . . to cover the funeral home expense and put him for one last time in a resting place; his last one, a beautiful urn.

She was able to return to her job at the arcade, which she resumed on December 28th after they hauled out the hospital bed and unused medical supplies and she packed his clothes and used medical furniture for the thrift store donation . . . but it didn't help in time for her to get on her feet. We were able to help with rent and her family was able to pitch in and help with utilities for the month, but she still needs to get through one more month before her income will take over and she will be able to support herself. $1100 will help cover the space rental on her trailer, the insurance which is now due, and the utilities . . . it will take more to cover the last of the expenses he incurred in his final days and hours that wasn't covered by his medical option. We don't know the amount, only that the bills are coming and she really needs our help to get through while she covers the bills she can't even know while dealing with her own version of postpartum.

12/16/2018

Are you on our list to receive memos? Throughout the year we send little memos to a donor list. Not everyone will receive every memo because we only send when we have a need and no funds in the bank to handle it, or we have an event, such as preparing students for a new school year, or helping families to have a blessed holiday and need to gather resources to help with food, gifts, and the niceties of enjoying family time.

We understand that not every donor is in a position to assist and not always will a donor have a leading of the heart to share resources when they do not feel moved by the event -- no harm done, we have all been in those positions. Our memos are sent to keep donors informed; to keep donors, who want to be involved, ready to explain the work and activities of the Tillamook County Secret Angels to friends and family who may have never heard of us, and to share the high points of lives touched by donor dollars.

If you are not receiving our memos in the mail, and want to be a part of this community endeavor, then leave us a message on this Facebook site and let us know your name, address and what you are most interested in hearing. We would like to know what "trips your hammer" from supplying the ingredients for holiday meals, to finding special gifts for birthdays for children under 14 years, helping students in Headstart through eighth grade obtain at least one new change of clothing and a filled backpack with fresh, new supplies and encouraging well wishes.

In the meantime, remember that we do have a local bank account at the Manzanita Branch of Columbia Bank and you are welcome to make direct deposits when you walk in and ask to see the bank manager. Should you want to deliver new clothing, toys, or items needed by seniors, or slip funds under the door in person, our home (36050 9th Street in Nehalem and overlooking the outside dining patio at Wanda's) is currently in a remodeling state. The front door is open to the foyer and our son occupies the residence year 'round making the deposits and alerting the delivery volunteer who ensures packages are distributed to the appropriate individuals.

Would you rather spend that 55 cent stamp and mail your gift? Monetary gifts may be mailed to TCSA, P.O. Box 208, Nehalem, OR 97131. Should you have questions, we can be reached by leaving a message on our line at 503-368-3763 and one of us will return your call as soon as we check in and pick up our messages.

Please know that you are appreciated and those who have received help from Tillamook County Secret Angels have gone through life-changing experiences, not realizing how much their neighbors wanted to see us all succeed in life. Blessings on your and yours this day and always, and thank you for reading, sharing and reacting to our post!

Sincerely,
TILLAMOOK COUNTY SECRET ANGELS

Nancy Bogle
Coordinator

12/10/2018

Our list is building, as it always does this time of year. We have several families worried that they may be packing instead of enjoying Christmas, or that the house will be cold and dank with a heavy, overdue electric, or oil bill hampering any festivities they could have had for the children whilst interrupting a hot meal.

It's a shame that we have to know fear when it should be a holiday of hope, but that is the utter result of a world with little to to look forward to when parents have grown up not thinking ahead to their future and the little ones who will be affected by their decisions. It is also not a time to tell them "I told you so" or to make this into a punishment time as though it's going to "teach them a lesson."

Our choices affect how the children and seniors in these households who have little say over the consequences of their providers. They look up to the people in charge of all their tomorrows, with trust and hope that somehow their lives will look like the stories they see in the movies and cartoons.

Although we are not expected to, nor could we ever, fulfill their dreams and hopes, each of us can offer a small sentiment of what the holidays mean to our own families. Cans of special food and festive colors of paper on one or two new toys, or a new warm pair of socks, sweaters without tears nor missing buttons, slippers with new soles that still grab the floor and support a hobbled walk on arthritic legs . . . these are the gifts of the season. Even a little in the kitty can add up to enough to keep a family in it's home for at least one more month, or "keep the homefires burning" as Mom hopes for her military child to make an unexpected entrance through the front door.

God bless you for your prayers and your compassion.

01/11/2018

Thank you for the many likes and comments! You help to spread the word to others who may have never heard about us . . . afterall, we ARE Secret Angels!

01/11/2018

For those of you who need the help Tillamook County Secret Angels can offer, all you need do is to request an application by leaving a message at 503-368-3763, or by e-mailing us at [email protected]. Please leave your name, mailing address, phone number and needs. Let us know how many children you have if you are requesting help with birthdays, holidays, or gift giving specials throughout the year.

If you need help paying a bill, we will need to have a copy of the invoice showing your amount due and account number.

Your neighbors do not wish to see you fail. Our donors just want to see you on your feet, producing and joining the ranks of citizens who help to pull each other up.

11/27/2017

Need to get funds to us quicker than just mailing them? We have an account at Columbia Bank in Manzanita. Just speak with Patty Schlip, the bank manager and tell her you want to make a deposit to the Tillamook County Secret Angel Account.

Thank you in advance for your sincere and loving assistance. Please let us know how you want your gift spent: food? shelter?
utilities? Christmas toys and clothing for children or seniors? or wherever needed most? Every dime is a blessing to families who have nothing to draw from, and bills they cannot pay.

God bless you for caring.

(Please note: We cannot lawfully give your money to the person or people who you name. If you have someone you want to help directly, then you must give it yourself. Ours is a "secret" gifting; the receiver does not know who gave the gift and the giver does not know the recipient[s].)

08/18/2010