Salvation Army - AGH Pilot Lifts Cancer Patients
GloucesterTimes.com, Gloucester, MA
December 24, 2012
Salvation Army-AGH pilot lifts cancer patients
By James Niedzinski
Staff Writer
---- - GLOUCESTER - Some people may wonder where their money
will go when throwing change into a Salvation Army red bucket; Cape
Ann residents, wonder no more.
The Salvation Army teamed up with Addison Gilbert Hospital last
year, and the results have proven winners for both agencies.
City Councilor Sefatia Romeo Theken, who started volunteering
with the Salvation Army 15 years ago, helped spearhead the pilot
program and has worked closely with Addison Gilbert's oncology
department. Together, both Romeo Theken and oncology nurse Joanne
Gibbs have been raising funds for cancer patients both in and out
of the hospital.
Gibbs said that AGH's Lights of Love fund-raiser is in it's
fifth year and the response keeps getting better and better with
$75,000 raised since it's inception. The money goes toward patients
of Gorton's Specialty and Cancer Care Center within the
hospital.
Romeo Theken then steps in after patients are out of the
hospital and prepare for life lives after initial treatment. The
Salvation Army, meanwhile, steers some of its kettle dive money to
give out food vouchers and gift cards to families and patients
suffering from cancer.
This year, more than 50 families received about $300 in gift
cards and food vouchers, with the money collected by the local
service unit of the Salvation Army goes straight back to patients
and their families, she said.
She said that, between chemotherapy, radiation therapy and lack
of short term disability, many patients are unable to work and need
extra income.
"If you want to get better physically, you have to get better
mentally," Romeo Theken said. "It's not going to pay their
mortgage, but it will lift their spirits. The gifts were handed out
around the same time last year, in order to bring new hope into the
new year."
Traci Gilliss, a 47-year-old Gloucester resident, can attest
first hand how the program helps cancer patients.
Gilliss has been battling non-Hodgkins lymphoma for the past
eight years. She said she has been through numerous chemotherapy
treatments, even having a stem cell transplant in 2010. She has
since been on various pain medication, vitamins and supplements,
but remains in pain most of the day.
Before her diagnosis, Gilliss worked at The Landing at Seven
Central in Manchester for five years as a manager and bartender.
She said it was devastating to leave her job, but she simply could
not do the heavy lifting and preparation bartenders need to do.
"Some people have their passions like knitting or sports - I
worked," she said.
She addes, however, that she still stays in touch with her
coworkers, who have been supportive.
Gilliss's friends and family began making her meals when she was
sick, and thagt's where the Salvation Army projecgt comes in.
"(Romeo Theken) sent me home with enough food for four days,"
Gillis said.
She used her Kohl's gift card to thank her family and friends
for being so supportive, she bought a sweater, a nekclace,
ornaments and candles.
"I wanted to let them know I appreciate everything they have
done," she said.
She added she does not rely on the food voucher or gift card to
survive, but she is thankful for them.
"There are many people who have it worse off than I do," she
said.
Gilliss treated herself too, along with her family. Gilliss said
she has not gone on any lavish vacations, as they are too expensive
and can be tough to do with non-Hodkins lymphoma. Her treat,
however, is Izzi - a small yorkie she bought in March of this
year.
While celebrating the program, the Salvation Army is also still
reaching out for volunteers. William Leslie, service extenstion
director for Massachusetts, said the one-of-a-kind program simply
needs more support.
He said as of last week, donations are down 40 percent of where
they were last year.
"This isn't designed to solve all the problems in the world, but
it makes a difference," he said.