Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • November 21, 2012 Our hat’s off to Grace School in Wyckoff for their “Baking Goods Food Drive,” which will allow many of our families to cook and make their own food. Thanks to the National Association of Insurance Women who welcomed us to speak at their annual meeting. We also appreciate their generosity. Thanks to Eastern Christian Elementary School for their Food Drive! Our thoughts are with our families who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy. They will continue to have many needs long after the repairs are done. Please call us to see how you can help. We currently need “Thanksgiving in a Bag” to be delivered to families. Please feel free to drop off stuffing, cranberry sauce, muffin mix, gravy, and other popular food items. Our families appreciate these items. We can use these foods for the December holidays, too. Meet Matthew: Matt is a loving, sevenyear old boy who was diagnosed with bone cancer in early March. We started working with the family soon after learning of Matt’s diagnosis. Matt’s is definitely a fighter, and he is determined to beat his cancer. He has been receiving chemotherapy treatments since his diagnosis, and they will continue for the next year. He has already undergone surgery on his leg, and the doctors gave him a prosthetic device for his right femur. Matt has made such great improvements recently, and he is now walking on his own! He is expected to have another surgery on his right arm sometime next year, after he has completed his chemotherapy treatments. Matt is extremely positive, and never complains. He has a wonderful support system and amazing parents and grandparents, who are by his side every day. His cancer has added great challenges to the family. Matt’s mother and father currently work full-time jobs, but they have had to scale back due to the intensity of his condition, and the constant need to take him to doctors’ appointments and chemotherapy treatments in the hospital. Throughout everything, his parents have remained positive, and see their situation as something they need to get through. Matt loves playing video games and is on his computer a lot to keep his mind active. Unfortunately, his Nintendo DS recently broke, so he has nothing to play with while he is in the hospital. It would bring the biggest smile to his face if he were presented with the special gift of a brand new Nintendo DS XL. Matt also loves to build with Legos, and enjoys playing with Giant Skylanders games and toys. You can help: Our annual fundraiser will be held at The Brick House on March 1, 2013. We are putting together an event committee. Please call if you would like to be involved. We could use help in marketing, selling tickets, finding sponsors, etc. 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! We are also happy to discuss our programs at your next fundraiser or event. If your company has a charitable giving program, please let us know. You can help us in a variety of ways. Turn your event into a fundraiser, and collect checks or gift cards for our families. Your efforts help us to help families in many ways, including sending a case worker to visit the families at their home or in the hospital. This support for the kids, their siblings, and parents is crucial. Get your kids involved, too. Some have held Bake Sales or Yard Sales, and donated the proceeds to ECF. Is your Cub Scout or Girl Scout Troop looking to earn badges? (continued on page 17)