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Earlier this month, 11 families met virtually for an all-remote version of our annual Healing Hearts Family Bereavement Camp. The camp, which is open to families with children and teens who have recently lost a loved one to cancer, is usually held at a rural setting in the Pocono Mountains where visitors can ride horses, roast s’mores and enjoy a change of scenery. Though our families were unable to be physically together this year, our dedicated staff and volunteers planned seven hours of programming over the course of the weekend for parents and children to connect, remember their loved ones and find support.

CancerCare for Kids' offers year-round, free support services for children impacted by cancer: those living with cancer, have a loved one with cancer or have experienced the loss of a loved one to cancer. In 2020, CancerCare for Kids offered a variety of holiday programs including the Winter Warmth Program, the Winter Wonderland Gift Program and the Holiday Gift Card Program.

For the fifth year in a row, the CancerCare for Kids Back-to-School Program provided new backpacks full of school supplies to 150 children and teens in the tristate area. These free back-to-school packages include items such as a backpack, notebooks, folders, pencil cases, markers, crayons and/or colored pencils and additional age-appropriate supplies.

CancerCare’s Healing Hearts Family Bereavement Camp is an annual highlight for our clients, their families and our staff. As the spring progressed, it became clear that gathering at Memorytown USA in Mount Pocono, PA, would not be possible due to the risk of COVID-19. Undeterred, we kept in touch with our campers over the summer and held a virtual activity earlier this month to help them connect with other families and honor their loved ones.

CancerCare would like to thank the Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) New York Association once again for their generosity during this holiday season. This national academic honor society recently donated funds and holiday presents for children and teens to CancerCare, as part of its 2019 Holiday Celebration & Toy Drive.

On the second weekend of June, CancerCare hosted the 11th annual Healing Hearts Family Bereavement Camp, a free retreat for families and children coping with the loss of a loved one to cancer. For this year’s butterfly themed camp, 27 families spent the weekend at Memorytown USA in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. Families came to the camp from the tri-state area, as well as Virginia, Pennsylvania and Texas.

The CancerCare for Kids Winter Warmth program is now in its third year! In December 2018, CancerCare for Kids sent out 155 winter warmth packages to children and teens affected by cancer. This program currently assists families living in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. This year, the package contained: socks, gloves, a fleece blanket, scarves, pocket tissues, hand warmers and hats generously donated by Love Your Melon.

On December 13, CancerCare’s New Jersey Office, in partnership with Eisai Inc., hosted its 7th Annual Holiday Party. The party was open to all of CancerCare’s clients, including families, adults and caregivers affected by cancer. Eisai Inc. graciously hosted 200+ children, adults and staff members in their office space in the Woodcliff Lakes, New Jersey.

For the third year, CancerCare, in partnership with Flatiron Health, hosted a fun-filled Winter Wonderland Holiday Party. The party was open to all of CancerCare’s clients, including families, adults and caregivers affected by cancer. Flatiron Health graciously hosted 120+ children, adults and staff members in their office space in the Soho neighborhood of New York City.

For the third year in a row, CancerCare helped families through our Back-to-School Program. One mother shares: “Jaeden was so happy when he received his new backpack. It’s fashionable and resistant to the weight he will be carrying this school year. Thank you so much-this program has helped med a lot by cutting down on the back-to-school bill!”