How You Can Help
Friendship
Be the friend that sticks around. Consistency in relationships can help tremendously with the mental health of families.
Volunteer
Supporting families in any way can bring comfort to yourself and others. We have many opportunities to serve.
Wish List
Feeling lost on what to get a family or child in need? Take look at our wish list to get started on helping out.
Shop to Help
Many families need specific items they are unable to purchase on their own. Gift them something personal.
Be The Friend That Sticks Around
When a friend or family member has a child diagnosed with cancer, it can be challenging to know how best to support them. Here are some suggestions to consider:
- Recognize the Impact: Understand that their lives have drastically changed. They may not be able to articulate their needs because they are still adjusting to their new reality. All they want is for things to go back to normal.
- Offer Help: Asking for help can be difficult for them, so if they do ask for something, try your best to provide assistance. If you're unable to fulfill their request, find someone who can. The courage to ask for help should be met with support and understanding.
- Think About Their Needs: Consider the practical challenges they face. Supporting their other children by offering to pick them up from school or assisting with homework can also be valuable. Offer a playdate with the siblings when there are appointments at the hospital (Siblings still are not allowed in the hospital) and this can be very stressful trying to figure out care. Offer to watch the kids so that the parents can take a break or provide help with household chores, such as mowing the lawn or shoveling snow.
- Be Reliable Support: Act as a "go-to" person who communicates with others about what the family needs and wants. Prepare meals that can be frozen for later use, help with household tasks, or even hire a service to assist them.
- Be Present: Listen to them, accompany them during surgeries, and visit them in the hospital if they are open to visitors. Bring a movie to watch together or a game to play. However, always ask first and respect their wishes if they're not ready for visitors.
- Understand Precautions: If visiting an immune-compromised child, make sure you're not sick or carrying any illnesses. If bringing the child's friends, ensure they are healthy and have not been exposed to anything that may jeopardize the child with cancer.
- Encourage Support Groups: Suggest that they join a support group for parents of children with cancer. Sometimes, there are no words to convey the experience, and being in a group of others facing similar challenges can provide comfort and understanding.
- Respect Their Decisions: If they decline your suggestions or offers of help, accept their decision. They may need time to adjust and may appreciate your support at a later time. Continue to offer assistance or suggest other ways you can help when appropriate.
- Be Sensitive and Understanding: Recognize that their priorities and capabilities have shifted. They are still the same person, but their lives have been dramatically altered. Be patient and understanding as they navigate through this difficult time.
- Stick Around: Childhood cancer treatments can be lengthy, and initial support may fade away over time. Be the friend who remains steadfast and continues to offer support and understanding throughout their journey.
Remember, your presence and support can make a significant difference in their lives. Adapt to their needs, be patient, and continue to be the friend you have always been.
Wish List
The lists below contain items that we currently have a need for or an ongoing need for use in our Comfort Bags and Snacks. Thank you for your generosity and willingness to help us in supporting families in need.
These are given to families when a child is newly diagnosed
- 3″ Three-Ring Binders
- Pencil Cases/bags with holes to be held in binders
- Date Books
- Notepads
- Airborne
- Tylenol
- Excedrin – extra strength
- Pill Organizers
- Pill Crusher
- Q-tip
- Individual tissue packets (soft)
- Individual size hand sanitizer (Germ-X)
- Small First Aid Kits
- Small manicure sets
- Hi-lighters
Emergency Overnight Bags:
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Hand sanitizer
- Tissues (soft)
- Deodorant
- Small combs or brushes
- Razors
- Hand Lotion
- Travel Size Shampoo and Conditioner
· ** No more soap, please
- Individual juice boxes
- Individually wrapped granola bars, breakfast bars, snack bars
- Individual packages of cookies, crackers, chips, dried fruit, trail mix, beef jerky
- Instant cup of soup packets.
- Coffee singles packets (regular & decaf)
- K-pods
- Individual coffee creamers
- Teabags, regular & herbal flavors
- Packages of Hot cocoa and spiced cider
- Microwave popcorn
- Any individually wrapped healthy snack
- Toner Cartridges: Epson 34517A (ET3850 Series) & HP564AC9 (HP office jet 6500 E710n-z)
- Miscellaneous Office Supplies
- Copy Paper
- Postage stamps
- Restaurant Coupons/Vouchers Pizza Vouchers
- Coffee cards (Starbucks is always a favorite, Thomas Hammer is IN the hospital
- Small toys valued at between $1 and $5 for all ages (birth – teens) boys and girls.
- I-Tunes/Amazon/Starbucks, etc. cards for teens
Volunteer Opportunities
There are many volunteer opportunities available to you. Below are just some of the many ways that you can get involved. If you would like to sign up to volunteer, click the sign up button to send us an email and we will reach out with available dates and times.
- Light The Way Gala Volunteer
- Blood Drive Volunteer
- Comfort Bag Assembly
- Snack Bag Assembly
Sign up for the Community Rewards program by linking your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to Childhood Cancer Coalition at www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards.
You can search for us by our name or by our non-profit number 93515.
Shop and purchase things you normally buy online and benefit Childhood Cancer Coalition without spending any additional money.
We receive a donation from the companies when you use one of the online portals listed below shop or search the web and designate our charity as the beneficiary.
You are already making the purchases, why not make them count!
Walmart Spark for Good
- Monthly Snack Sponsors
- New Patient Bag Sponsorships
- Office location Sponsorship.
Monetary donations are gladly accepted and support our many programs and services.
