How to Help Out Those Surviving

Quite often I’ve heard, “I don’t have cancer. But is there anything I can do other than make a monetary donation to help people who do have cancer?”

Oh, my, yes, there is! And many of those ways are so simple.

For instance, housekeeping tasks are at times out of reach of someone who has cancer and undergoing treatment. Dusting the furniture, vacuuming the carpeting, sweeping and mopping floors, changing bed linens, cleaning up dirty dishes, doing a load of laundry -- all these things help a person tremendously.

Watering flowers, mowing the lawn, picking up a prescription, taking charge of the grocery list, purchasing the groceries, and then putting them away are other ways to help.

Sometimes all that’s needed is a phone call or stopping by to visit, even if it’s only for five minutes. Receiving a “pick me up” card can give a lift to a person’s spirits that lasts for days.

Going to see a person fighting cancer and telling them you’ve come to take them to lunch, or just out for a drive can mean a lot.

Sharing a cup of coffee or tea or a cool drink may only take a half hour out of your day but to the other person the benefits of that half hour are immeasurable.

Offering to write a letter to a person’s family member or friend is another way to help. You could also offer to mail a package can be a big help.

Putting together a simple casserole for supper is always appreciated. Or even just a serving or two that is frozen for later use can make life easier especially for someone who is undergoing treatment

When it comes to making donations, you can do so in a variety of ways. Many items can be given to the outpatient treatment center in Glasgow. Pretty caps for women who have lost or are losing their hair due to chemotherapy treatment are well received. A few $5 gift certificates that help pay for lunch or to purchase an ice cream cone or cold drink or even to help with paying for gas are great.

I’ve mentioned it before but even if it is 100 degrees outside you can get chilled while receiving treatment. Beautiful lap throws can often be found on sale or at yard sales. Perhaps you love to sew. If that’s the case quilted throws made from old clothing or jeans are most welcome.

There are so many things you can do to help a person not only while they are fighting cancer, but even afterwards. Chemotherapy takes so very much out of a person -- physically, emotionally, mentally, even spiritually -- that once they finish treatment it will take a long while for them to recover.

And always remember that someone fighting cancer isn’t the only one being affected. It also affects all the members of a family as well as the person’s friends. Whatever you do to help that one person helps so many others as well.

Let your heart and head and imagination lead you to ways to help others.