Many thanks to Project #EAS and ‘i understand love heals’, courtesy of the Spitler family, for their recent donation of over 800 blankets for Pine Rest patients!
For the second winter in a row, the Spitler family teamed up with ‘i understand’ to host a Blanket Drive to benefit Pine Rest patients in memory of local husband and father Eric Spitler, who tragically lost his life to suicide in 2021. Eric’s wife, Sarah, and their children have made it their mission to keep Eric’s memory alive by saving lives, one blanket at a time.
During the 2023 holiday season, members of the community were invited to donate new blankets and notes of encouragement for patients experiencing a mental health crisis. On January 4, 2024, Eric Spitler’s family and friends, along with leaders from ‘i understand’, gathered at the Pine Rest Postma Center to deliver over 800 blanket donations.
“We are so thankful for the blankets and notes again this year,” said Pine Rest Chief Nurse Executive Gretchen Johnson. “These gifts of comfort, though small, have an immeasurable impact for those we serve. It really leaves a lasting impression of love and support in our community and is such a wonderful legacy in Eric’s memory.”
