Supporting Families Affected by Cancer: Backpacks for Back-to-School Season
This summer, 187 students in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut received backpacks full of new school supplies for the start of the academic year as part of CancerCare for Kids’ Back-to-School Program.
For the ninth year, CancerCare’s oncology social workers and facilities team packed and sent backpacks filled with new supplies to pre-K through high school students across the tri-state area. Students from 67 families received age-appropriate school supplies, including brand-new backpacks, binders, notebooks, folders, pens, pencils and art supplies to alleviate some of the emotional and financial strains on families navigating a cancer diagnosis.
The feedback received from parents and guardians after receiving the back-to-school packages underscores the importance of programs like this:
“We can now utilize the extra funds on things like food and bills for our home. It also brings peace of mind. Both of my children have more than enough supplies to begin their upcoming school year.”
Another parent shared that her son “was so excited to be able to get a new school bag and supplies for first grade! This saved me the trip to the store which can cause a lot of pain flare-ups and energy wasting.”
Cancer can have a profound impact on the entire family and certain times of the year, like holidays and back-to-school season, can bring additional challenges. The Back-to-School Program “allowed an opportunity to provide essential resources to my children while focusing on my healing,” explained one parent.
CancerCare for Kids’ Back-to-School Program is open to children and teens diagnosed with cancer, who have a loved one diagnosed with cancer or who have lost a loved one to cancer and who reside in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut.
Thank you to all our supporters and dedicated staff, including our facilities team and social workers Shannon Coon, Sarah Paul, Cassie Spector, Hayley Feuchs and Julia Manna for making our Back-to-School Program possible!
Learn more about CancerCare for Kids or call our Hopeline at 800-813-HOPE (4673).