Hello, my name is Andrew Perry, Union President for City of Artesia employees. I am fundraising for one of our members, Ms. Patty Castaneda. Our union and Patty’s family have teamed up to fundraise for her as she is currently fighting for her life in the ICU against Covid-19.

From her family: “Patty has such a big heart. She has actively fundraised for many charities and causes that she feels passionate about, and it’s our turn to help her. She’s strong, she’s a fighter, but even though she is vaccinated, Covid has wiped her out and she has been in the hospital ICU for almost a month, trying to beat it. She is in the hands of wonderfuul doctors, and thank God she is making progress in the right direction. Through small notes she sends us, she’s still sending out her love and thanks to her family, friends, and co-workers for their well wishes and prayers. She said that she feels the prayers!”

What we are asking for is help to pay her medical bills, and to help her with her other bills and expenditures as she has missed several weeks of pay at her job and PTO is slowly running out. If PTO reaches zero, she will lose her medical coverage.

Her sister Rita told me, “Andy, we’ve never done this before. We have always managed somehow, but I feel this time we’re going to need all the help we can get for my little sister. I want her to focus on recovering, not worry about bills. Right now she’s too weak to even fill out her forms, and I am doing it for her. I feel she has a long road to recovery ahead of her. “

We realize these are times of struggle for others, but please consider donating to help Patty out. Thank you everyone, and let’s help this lady who has touched so many of our lives.

In gratitude,

Andrew Perry

President, AFSCME Local 1520