Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • October 24, 2012 before the cancer strikes, the aftermath is catastrophic – including a new pair of sneakers or jeans, a nutritious snack or meal, or a sporadic treat. When you give to the families financially and emotionally. Can you help to make life a bit easier for my clients? The I serve, your gift is cherished and appreciated. That I guarmost appreciated donations are gift cards that can be used antee. Thank you for your heartfelt generosity. Can You Help? to purchase items for their children: clothes, shoes, boots, You can help in a variety of ways. Consider turning lunches and snacks for school, and the occasional toy. Gift your next event into a fundraiser for ECF, and ask guests to Our hat’s off to Rebecca Blaney for her fantastic Birth- cards allow my clients to apply their hard-earned money bring checks or gift cards to be used by our families. Your day Bag Drive! We thank the Wyckoff Seniors for their toward their essential bills and lessen the stress of how efforts help us to help our families in many ways, including food donations, and everyone who responded to our last they will be able to give their children what all kids need, (continued on page 30) article. It’s already time to think about Thanksgiving. Please give us a call to see how you can help. We need turkeys and “Thanksgiving in a Bag” to go out with our Thanksgiving deliveries. Feel free to drop off stuffing, cranberry sauce, muffin mix, gravy, and any other popular food item. Our families will appreciate your contributions. A caseworker’s thoughts: My name is Debbie and I am a caseworker with the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation. I am humbled and moved by the courage and resilience of the families I work with each day. Every family I see has a child who has been touched by 4-29-09 karen/janine in treatment, some have recently cancer. Some children are completed treatment, and some have EmmanuelHelp2x.75(4-29-09)lost their battle. What every family has in common is that 3 x .75 a child’s cancer diagnosis. each is uprooted as a result of The children I visit range in age from toddlers to teenagers and they have all different kinds of cancer, including brain cancer, eye cancer, bone cancer, and leukemia. I meet with these children and their families in hospital rooms and living rooms, during treatment, and sometimes when the hospice nurses make their home visits. I speak with parents who wonder how they will ever be able to get through such a devastating disease. I can tell you that they do -- and as they try to figure out how to get through each day, they face not only inexplicable anxiety, but often economic and emotional devastation, too. In my work with these families, I am offered an understanding of the concrete needs of my clients as they move forward with their lives. Many are single moms. Most have The Italian American Social Club of Waldwick recently donated to the Waldwick Public Library’s historic archives, five other children to care for, despite being preoccupied with restored and framed photographs depicting scenes of Italian immigrants that settled in the neighborhoods along the railroad their sick child. They have jobs that they have put on hold in Waldwick. In the above photo, club member Andrea Mistretta, center, presents one of the photos to Mayor Thomas Giorto care for their child with cancer; some lose their jobs and dano and Library Director Patty Boyd. The view (c. 1932) shows The Marconi Social Aid Club annual feast’s march from Old their unemployment benefits expire. Whatever income St Luke’s Church to the clubhouse headquartered next to the historic train signal tower at Zazzetti Street and Bohnert Place. there is goes toward basic needs like food and shelter; there The Maria S.S. Dell’Assunta’s feast procession took place during the Roman Catholic Church’s Assumption Day on August is little or no money left for medical or utility bills, and 15th. Ninety years later the Italian American Social Club of Waldwick celebrates the same feast in the form of its Ferragosto sometimes funeral expenses, let alone clothing or toys. As family picnic. To see more photos of the Italian American Social Club of Waldwick, go to its website : iascw.com. The club most of my clients are economically disadvantaged even meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Waldwick Ambulance Corps building, second floor. Emmanuel asks... Preserving Italian-American heritage