Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • January 11, 2012 Emmanuel asks... Can You Help? Our hat’s off to the amazing people and companies in the community who bought our families holiday baskets and toys. Our families were blown away by your support. We received an overwhelming response to Dulce’s article, and are happy to report that the family received new trundle beds, mattresses, and mattress covers. In addition, they received lots of new toys and gift cards. The family is very grateful. Thank you! Feel free to call the office for family updates. Our Second Annual Hollywood Bash is set for Saturday, Feb. 4. Please call us if you would like to get involved. We are looking for donations for our auction and for ad placements. We are also looking for volunteers (age 21 and older) to help us with fundraiser tickets, welcoming people, and 4-29-09Jessica: Jessica more. 19 years old. We first met karen/janineis now Meet EmmanuelHelp2x.75(4-29-09) her five years ago when she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma 3 x .75 (bone cancer) in her leg. Jessica is the oldest of the five kids in this very close family. She has had her ups and downs over the past few years. Jessica had her leg amputated a few years ago and now has a prosthesis. Her cancer has spread to her lungs, and the doctors have been managing it with chemotherapy and surgery. Jessica’s cancer has taken its toll on the whole family, which is one of the nicest you could ever meet. Mom recently lost her job at a car rental company and is currently looking for another job. To help make things easier, this family would appreciate the following: gift cards to Foot locker, Forever 21, and American Outfitters. The family spends a lot in gas traveling to and from appointments, so Shell gas station gift cards would also be very handy. Jessica’s mom could not afford her Sprint phone bills anymore, and recently had her service disconnected. Gift cards to Sprint would help, too. Lastly, Jessica needs a dresser and the family needs a dining room set. Gift cards to Target or Walmart would be great. Thank you for your support for this grateful family. We rely on our local community to help support our families. Many of them do not have the financial or emotional support to help them get through a major illness like cancer. Please remember: We do not charge anything for our services. We rely on you! ECF, which was named for a little boy named Emmanuel who lost his battle with cancer nearly 30 years ago, uses monetary contributions to cover the costs associated with providing free services to any New Jersey child who has cancer. Approximately 70 cents from every dollar goes toward direct care for our families. If your company has a charitable giving program, please let us know. ECF distributes about 140 bags of food to our families each month. You can help us fill our pantry. When you go grocery shopping and something non-perishable is on sale, please pick up some extra items and drop them off at ECF. Sugar, flour, salt, cooking oil, detergent, pancake mix/syrup, and rice are always needed. You can help in a variety of ways. Consider turning your next event into a fundraiser for ECF, and ask guests to bring checks or gift cards to be used by our families. Your efforts help us to help our families in many ways, including sending a caseworker to visit the families at home or in the hospital. This support for the kids, their siblings, and parents is crucial. Kids are welcome to help, too. Many have held sales or other events and contributed the proceeds to ECF. If your Boy Scout or Girl Scout Troop needs to earn badges, visit us in Midland Park. Scouts can get creative and have fun helping our families as they learn about philanthropy. ECF representatives are available to discuss our programs at your next fundraiser or event. Just give us a call for more information. If you have a few hours a week to spare, consider becoming a volunteer, or just stop by and meet with us, take a look at our pantry, and see what ECF is all about. Call us at (201) 612-8118 before you stop by. Please do not leave items at the center without checking with us first. Our storage space is limited. We are looking for a Friday volunteer from 1 to 4 p.m. We are also looking for a few food drivers who are willing to go to Bergen and Essex counties. A background check with an $18 fee is required. The Northern Regional Center is located at 174 Paterson Avenue, Midland Park, NJ 07432. Visit us on the web at www.emmanuelcancer.org. As always, thank you for helping the children and their families! Change of plans The Allendale/Waldwick PBA Local 217 recently donated 140 hams to the Center for Food Action in Mahwah. The hams were purchased with the $1,000 the PBA traditionally uses for the holiday decoration contest. Due to the overwhelming need for food at the Center for Food Action, the PBA voted to use the money to make this purchase instead. The hams were purchased at a discount due to the generosity of Allendale A&P store manager Eileen Wurst of the Allendale A&P, store manager and meat manager John Keuerleber. The hams were accepted by Jim James of the Center for Food Action. Pictured are Scott Kunzel, Gordon Andre, Doug Moore, Patrick Logue, and Joseph Galasso, and managers of Allendale A&P at the Center for Food Action.