Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • June 6, 2012 Peter’s mom is on family leave from her job in order to take care of him. She hopes to move into her own home by the fall, and Peter would like to return to school. Mom’s main need is for a car. “If I could get a good used car that I can afford, I wouldn’t have to rely on my parents and others to get Peter to his appointments,” she told us. Summer needs: We need window air conditioning units, new or in good working condition, for our families. We also need boys’ summer clothing in size 7/8 and XL, and shoes in size 7. Some of our families could use prepaid phone cards for Cricket Mobile. ECF 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. Each month, we distribute about 140 bags of food to our families. You can help us fill our pantry. When you go grocery shopping and something non-perishable is on sale, please grab some extra items and drop them off at our outreach center. Staples such as 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 case worker to visit the families at home or in the hospital. Kids can 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 (continued on page 17) Our hat’s off to Waldwick Girl Scout Troop 812 for collecting food for our families. Troop members include Jillian, Brooke, Elizabeth, Mehka, Sneha, Asley L., Ashley B., Lily, Carlie, Missy, and Zeina. A special shout out goes to 11-year-old Hayley Griffin from Wyckoff. Hayley celebrated her 11th birthday at the Drawing Room in Midland Park. In lieu of gifts, Hayley asked for donations to our center. She collected $150.We used Hayley’s contribution to buy clothing gift cards for our families. We thank Hayley and her friends! Meet Peter: Peter is a quiet 15-year-old who enjoys playing and watching basketball. He was diagnosed with osteosarcoma of his left femur in November 2011, during his freshman year in high school. He recently underwent surgery, which included a full amputation of his left leg. He told his mother that, as much as he enjoys playing basketball and understands the effects of having his leg amputated, he knows his life is more important than basketball. He has been receiving homebound tutoring since his diagnosis. He had chemotherapy prior to his surgery. He went through rehabilitation and now tries to maintain an upbeat mood. He is waiting to be fitted for a prosthetic leg. After recent testing, the doctors told Peter’s mother that the cancer has spread to his lung and kidney, which means he has started chemotherapy again to hopefully put his cancer into remission. When Peter is not getting treatment, he spends his time playing computer games and doing the homework he receives from his tutor. He and his mother are currently living at his grandparents’ home, which is not in the same town as where he was living before his diagnosis. When Peter wants to see his friends, his mom needs to have her parents drive him there.