Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • October 24, 2012 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 cancer. Some children are in treatment, some have recently completed treatment, and some have lost their battle. What every family has in common is that each is uprooted as a result of a child’s cancer diagnosis. 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 other children to care for, despite being preoccupied with their sick child. They have jobs that they have put on hold to care for their child with cancer; some lose their jobs and their unemployment benefits expire. Whatever income there is goes toward basic needs like food and shelter; there is little or no money left for medical or utility bills, and sometimes funeral expenses, let alone clothing or toys. As most of my clients are economically disadvantaged even before the cancer strikes, the aftermath is catastrophic – financially and emotionally. Can you help to make life a bit easier for my clients? The most appreciated donations are gift cards that can be used to purchase items for their children: clothes, shoes, boots, lunches and snacks for school, and the occasional toy. Gift cards allow my clients to apply their hard-earned money toward their essential bills and lessen the stress of how they will be able to give their children what all kids need, including a new pair of sneakers or jeans, a nutritious snack or meal, or a sporadic treat. When you give to the families I serve, your gift is cherished and appreciated. That I guarantee. Thank you for your heartfelt generosity. 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 and have fun helping our families as they learn about philanthropy. 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. ECF representatives are available to discuss our programs at your next fundraiser or event. 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 (201) 6128118 before you stop by. Please do not leave items at the center without checking with us first. Our storage space is limited. The Northern Regional Center is located at 174 Paterson Avenue, Midland Park, NJ 07432. Visit us at www. emmanuelcancer.org. As always, thank you for helping the children and their families! Our hat’s off to Rebecca Blaney for her fantastic Birthday Bag Drive! We thank the Wyckoff Seniors for their food donations, and everyone who responded to our last 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. Botanical garden (continued from page 4) Since 1976, NJBG/Skylands Association, an incorporated, member-supported non-profit organization, has worked with the state to preserve and protect Skylands and its historic structures. NJBG sponsors volunteer gardeners, educational programs, concerts, and events at the garden throughout the year. NJBG receives no funding from the State of New Jersey or from on-site operators. Donations and sponsorships are always appreciated. NJBG/Skylands is located on Morris Road in Ringwood. For an event schedule, membership brochure, directions, or information, call (973) 962-9534 or visit www.njbg.org.