Charlo community rallies around family
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CHARLO — They say you learn who your true friends are in times of crisis. For one Charlo family, that has meant a whole town coming together to support them as they face hardship on many levels.
Just over three months ago, the Smith family had no idea how their lives were about to change. A huge blow came in late October when 16-year-old Becky, a Charlo High School freshman and one of four children to Clay and Melissa Smith, was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia. The family traveled to Spokane, Wash., so Becky could start treatment at Sacred Heart Medical Center, and returned home a few weeks later. When it seemed that the storm was raging full strength, things soon took a turn for the worse.
Just a week after Clay returned to his job working in the gas fields in Pennsylvania, he suffered an on-the-job injury that left his right hand mangled and him unable to work. He lost one finger, and is hoping he won’t have to lose another that doctors are still trying to save.
While Becky does chemo treatments at home now, she still has to travel to Spokane once a month for checkups, and the travel expenses quickly add up. That’s why when the Smiths’ friends learned about the situation, they were quick to step up and help. Jennie Youngren was one of those — she grew up attending school with both Clay and Melissa’s families, and there was never a question in her mind as to who would take care of the Smiths. The Charlo community would, and on Saturday night, they did.
Hundreds of the Smiths’ neighbors and friends gathered at the school gym to offer their support, both financially and emotional, to the family in a fundraising auction and dinner.
“It’s way bigger than we anticipated,” Youngren said, watching as a large crowd filtered through tables bearing silent auction items.
Locals donated between 400 and 450 new and old items, ranging from baskets of farm-fresh eggs to recliners, for the “Trash and Treasure” auction. They also brought dozens of side dishes and desserts to accompany the spaghetti and salad dinner coordinated by Youngren’s mother, Nancy Evans. And one anonymous donor brought a $1,000 check to the event. The gifts totaled around $10,000, far more than organizers expected, Youngren said.
Despite the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the benefit, the love and support the Smith family experienced was overwhelming.
“It’s amazing,” Clay said. “Thanks to everybody … I think everybody’s doing everything they can to help.”
