Sunnybrook at Mt. Pleasant holds relief drive for storm victims

MT. PLEASANT - Sunnybrook at Mt. Pleasant wants to take care of people in their community and beyond it.

The assisted living community will be hosting a relief drive and donating items to those living in the Cedar Rapids area who are affected by the recent derecho storm.

Sunnybrook is asking community members to donate items such as non-perishable foods, water, clothing, cat and dog food, baby items and small toys starting Monday of next week. The collection will run through Thursday and items will be taken to Cedar Rapids on Friday.

Cody Flietner, marketing director for the facility and organizer of the collection, said he was inspired to put together the relief drive after seeing friends hold a similar effort to bring items to those in need.

'Our goal at Sunnybrook is to take care of loved ones while they're staying here. We want to take care of others outside of the community as well, especially people who need help where devastation has occurred,” he said.

Flietner added he hopes the drive will unite the community for a good cause as well as inspire others to look for ways they can help their northern neighbors who may still be dealing with the aftermath of the storm.

'If we were in this position, I think our community would definitely appreciate help from outside as well,” he said.

The marketing director said many of the assisted living facility's residents are 'rooting” for the drive to go well.

'They think its great that we are stepping out … and extending our hospitality outside of the building. We have a Ford Flex we want to fill up with items. We also have a bus that we hope to get back [from the shop] to fill as well,” he said.

Flietner added the items will be distributed at various distribution centers throughout Cedar Rapids.

Those interested in participating in the drive can drop off items on Monday and Tuesday at Sunnybrook, anytime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. On Wednesday and Thursday, items can be dropped off at the square from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.