The New Era - All about Sweet Home since 1929

Guests began using the Alma Pastega wing of the Mario Pastega House last week, marking the completion of a two-pluis-year expansion project on the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center Campus in Corvallis.

The 6,000-square-foot addition doubles the size of the facility to 24 guest rooms. The 12 new rooms have queen beds and medical grade recliners. The floor plan offers adjoining rooms to better accommodate larger families.

“The addition of these new rooms will allow us to double the number of patients and families that we serve,” said Leslie Armstrong, supervisor of guest services. “We have truly considered our patients and their families with every detail in the house, from soothing artwork to soft decorative finishes, high-quality mattresses and the perfect amount of natural light.”

The artwork throughout the house is selected through the ArtsCare Program. In addition, crews constructed an outdoor patio space in the Alma Pastega garden.

Samaritan recently played host to a private opening celebration with Ken and Gary Pastega, two of Alma and Mario’s sons, cutting the ribbon.

The $2.8 million project was funded by the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation, and support from the Mario and Alma Pastega Family Foundation.

Multiple businesses and community leaders also contributed toward the construction with the Pastega family, including CH2M Hill, Rodda Paint and others. The Corvallis High School Mr. and Mrs. Spartan events continue to raise support, and the Siletz Tribe has awarded grants toward the facility.

Over the past year, the house has received several donations to help with expenses including a $1.06 million gift from the Clifford Heselton Trust and a $22,500 gift from the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at Oregon State University, which was matched by the Pastega family.

The house serves patients and families who must travel to the hospital campus for specialty medical care, ranging from surgeries to cancer treatments. About a third of the house’s guests come to Corvallis for cancer treatments at the Samaritan Pastega Regional Cancer Center. Other patients visit the hospital for heart surgeries or other specialty procedures.

It was made possible by a $350,000 gift from the late Mario and Alma Pastega, and the family foundation continues to support it.

For more information, contact the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation at (844) 768-4256.

Adopt-A-Day Program allows public to participate in Pastega House’s operations

For a gift of $517, the cost of operating the house for one full day, you can adopt a day at the house to be named in your honor or in honor/memory of a loved one. Donation forms are available at https://bit.ly/3LrC2c8.

-- Select the $517 adopt-a-day gift option.

-- Select Mario Pastega House from the designation drop-down menu.

-- Indicate the date you would like to adopt in the comment box.

-- Complete the tribute gift section to honor a loved one.

The foundation will follow up by email or phone to confirm recognition days. Adopt-a-day donors and honorees are recognized on the digital display at the house for 24 hours.