Genesee Cancer Assistance held a get together for patients at Grace Baptist Church on Vine street on Saturday morning. The Jingle Mingle was created in memory of original Genesee Cancer Assistance member Joe Gerace, who used to hold a huge holiday party.
“He always made a bunch of cookies,” says Executive Director Sue Underwood.
After delivering cookies to patients last year, this year the volunteers decided to continue Gerace’s tradition and hold a get together.
Grace Baptist Church provides counseling for Genesee Cancer Assistance and the church is centrally located for their 140 patients.
“The Jingle Mingle is meant to brighten the lives of our patients during this holiday season as they deal with their cancer journey and to also thank our wonderful volunteers for their year-round help and support,” says Volunteer Teresa Potrzebowski.
Genesee Cancer Assistance is a non profit group that is a community-based, volunteer organization dedicated to assisting cancer patients and their families. Their goal is to improve the quality of life of patients while helping to diminish suffering through services and financial support.
“I think there are a lot of traditions and memories made at the holiday times, and I think if you are doing well and feeling good then you continue to endure and embrace holidays. If you are struggling with your diagnosis or you get some bad news that is unexpected, or you lose a loved one, it makes it very difficult,” says Underwood.
Underwood says the volunteers are dedicated because they have a connection in one fashion or another to cancer.
“We want to let them know if there is anything we can do to help them, its a mind, body and soul experience. We want them to know we are more than a phone call or a check in the mail. This is a great way for us to build relationships with our people and to let them know we really care.”
For more information visit www.geneseecancerassistance.org/
