Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • January 29, 2014 Meet Brent’s family: Brent’s family has been struggling for the past year. His single mom had been doing well sup- porting her four children, but in May 2013, things changed drastically. Fifteen-year-old Brent became very ill and was diagnosed with bone cancer. This changed everything for Brent and his siblings, who are 18, 10, and 3. Now mom is only able to work a few shifts per week, which leaves the family struggling to pay bills and unable to enjoy things they used to be able to do. Mom is constantly driving back and forth to the hospital to take her son to doctors’ appoint- ments, treatments, and to visit him while he is hospitalized. Paying for the gas for her car is a real struggle. The children and mother never complain about their sit- uation, but it is clear that they miss some of the privileges of their “old lives.” The family would love to be able to go to the movies or go out for dinner simply to have fun together. Mom is always so positive and tries to think about all of the good things this family has. She wants nothing more than to have Brent healthy again, so he can live the life he was supposed to. This family would appreciate gift cards to Shop Rite, Shell or Lukoil gas stations, Chili’s, Friday’s, Olive Garden, or a movie theater. Please help us bring a sense of normalcy back to their lives. Another one of our families could use a couch, dressers, and a small toddler bed for a one-year-old child. Contact us if you want to be involved in planning our March 7 Annual Bash. This is our signature annual fund- raiser. The money raised goes directly to providing coun- seling and financial assistance to 70 families in northern New Jersey. Tickets are only $75. The event will be held at the Brickhouse in Wyckoff, and will include food, drinks, dancing, an auction, and a special guest speaker. E-mail laura@emmanuelcancer.org for tickets or for volunteer opportunities. ECF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide a variety of specialized services, at no charge, to any New Jersey family facing the challenges of caring for a child with cancer. We do not raise money for cancer research. We provide direct in-home care to our families. Our primary focus is providing professional counseling, material goods (such as household items, toys, and monthly grocery deliveries), and emergency financial assistance. These individually tailored services are critical in helping families get through the crisis of pediatric cancer. ECF does not receive government funding. We rely on donations and support from the community. Call (201) 612- 8118 or e-mail Laura at laura@emmanuelcancer.org to see how you can help. A few ideas follow. We need volunteers who can deliver groceries to fami- lies in Bergen and Essex counties. Spanish-speaking driv- ers are in particularly high demand. Turn your next event into a fundraiser where you collect checks or gift cards to donate to our families. (continued on page 19)