Community clears out local Walmart to donate to flood victims

HARRISON, Ark. – Torrential rain caused major flooding in northern Arkansas on Wednesday, July 17.

In the city of Yellville, more than 80 seniors were displaced from The Springs Creekside nursing home when water got in, ruining most of their belongings.

Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents, a nonprofit in Harrison, has been collecting clothes, food, sanitary items and hearing aids for the seniors at The Springs.

“Can you imagine losing your teeth, your hearing aids, your shoes, everything, and waking up in water in a bed, 4:30 in the morning?” said volunteer Melody Siegler. “It’s heartbreaking to have to start all over.”

The amount of donations they’ve received for the Yellville nursing home is unlike anything they’ve seen before.

Three Wishes was formed six years ago when Ruby Chitsey was just 10 years old.

“I started this charity mainly because my mom works in the nursing home and I grew up there,” Ruby said. “I’ve been going with her ever since I was four years old. So I just they became my best friends. And when I found out that they were struggling, I knew I needed to help them.”

Everything in the warehouse now is only half of what has been donated to the residents of The Springs.

“It was 3 to 4 feet and it wiped out a nursing home,” Ruby said. “So it completely flooded it. And the staff and community really came together to get those people out and all 83 of them got out with no scrapes, no scratches. They’re completely fine.”

When Three Wishes put a post on social media asking for donations, Ruby says the community cleared out the local Walmart.

“I think it’s funny that our local Walmart was bought out by our community and it really shows just how great we are,” Ruby said.

Leslie Hinson, the community outreach coordinator for Three Wishes, says they are blessed and thankful for the close-knit community.

“Whenever they know that there’s a need, our community just steps up,” Hinson said. “They’re all in and they come in and help us.”

Siegler says the donations are appreciated by the seniors.

“Keep those people in your prayers because they’ve lost everything,” Siegler said.

Ruby says they have collected enough money and physical donations to fulfill the needs of the nursing home residents displaced by flooding.

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