Easter Seals Oregon hopes it can reopen its flooded building at McAndrews and Columbus Avenue by next week after the community stepped forward to help disabled children.

"I'm feeling so much more optimistic today," said Katie Shepard, Rogue Valley area director for Easter Seals.

Local contractors, the city of Medford and others have helped bail the organization out after rain water flooded the crawl space and part of the building last weekend

"These guys have totally stepped up and said, 'How can we help,'" Shepard said.

The yellow building across from the Santo Center serves as many as 30 children or young adults at a time, who require special attention for disabilities including Down Syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy. Overall, the local Easter Seals organization serves more than 400 children annually.

Shepard said she hopes the building can be reopened for children for a Dec. 15 day camp.

Easter Seals is looking for donations to help with the cleanup to replace toys and equipment. Call 541-842-2199, ext. 301, or stop by 406 S. Riverside Ave., Suite 101.

More information will be available in an upcoming Mail Tribune article.

— Damian Mann