A single mom. A hardworking son headed to the Army. A home in need of help. This is why we do what we do.
Every year, our Helping Hands program gives us the opportunity to do something that goes beyond the job — to use our skills, our time, and our team to make a real difference in the lives of people right here in our community. This year, we’re proud to kick things off with a project that truly embodied the heart of the program: helping Cassie Dittoe and her son Doug.
A Mother’s Nomination
Cassie was nominated by her mother, who reached out to share just how much her daughter and grandson needed a helping hand. In her own words:
“I would like to nominate my daughter, Cassandra Dittoe. She’s a single mom with a 17-year-old son, Doug. She’s been out of work on an L&I injury for almost 2½ years, surviving on 62% of her income. Doug is working at Les Schwab after school to help with the financial burden. He’ll be going into the Army next year in June after he graduates. Cassie owns an older double wide home outside Yelm and it has some plumbing and other issues that she just can’t afford to fix. Any help she could get would be amazing and greatly appreciated by her and her son.”
It’s hard to read that and not feel moved. Cassie has been dealing with a work injury that cut her income nearly in half — and rather than give up, her family pulled together. Doug, at just 17, stepped up and took a job at Les Schwab to help keep the lights on. And in the spring, he’ll be heading off to serve our country in the U.S. Army. These are the kinds of families that make our community great.
Rolling Up Our Sleeves
Cassie’s older double-wide home outside Yelm had been accumulating issues she simply couldn’t afford to tackle on her own. Plumbing problems and other repairs had piled up over her two-plus years out of work. Our team headed out to change that.
Helping Hands is built on the belief that the skills we use every day at work can transform lives when we direct them toward people who truly need them. For Cassie and Doug, that belief became a reality. We’re so grateful to everyone on our team who gave their time and effort to make this project happen.
See It for Yourself
We documented the whole experience — from showing up to the smiles at the end. Watch the full video of our Helping Hands visit with Cassie and Doug below. We think it’ll put a smile on your face, too.
▶ Watch the video: Helping Hands — Cassie Dittoe (YouTube)
About Our Helping Hands Program
Helping Hands is our way of giving back — plain and simple. Each year, we seek out deserving individuals and families in our community who could use a hand, and we put our team to work. Whether it’s repairs, improvements, or just showing up with a willing crew, we show up ready to make a difference.
Know someone in our community who could benefit from the Helping Hands program? We’d love to hear about them. Reach out to us — because everyone deserves a helping hand sometimes.
Learn more about the Helping Hands program and watch past projects on our YouTube channel and Instagram
