Vicki Wolak and Diane Fiorentino (center in blue) presented the staff at the Lipson Cancer Institute with over 100 hats for their patients on Friday morning. From left Joanne Robbins, Sarah Bobo, Jill Campbell, Vicki Wolak, Diane Fiorentino, Vanessa Fitch, Linda Prusak, and Chris Boyd. Back row-from the left-Ashley Ernle, Joyce Futch.
After accompanying a friend to their treatment at Rochester Regional Lipson Cancer Institute a few months ago, Vicki Wolak, noticed the Institute was low on hats while in the lobby.
“I saw this IV pole, and it had these hats on it with a little note that said, “Please take one to keep your head warm” and I just thought it was a great little something to do,” says Wolak.
“I belong to the Batavia Business and Professional Women’s Organization, and we do community service projects, I thought that was something maybe we could do and donate to the Lipson Center. So, I presented it to our membership, and I put it out on my Facebook page and asked anybody that crocheted, knitted, or sewed wanted to make any hats. Within two months, we had over 100 hats made and donated.”
After collecting the hats, Wolak called the Lipson Cancer Institute wanting to donate all the hats.
“It was perfect timing that Vicki called me because we were completely out of hats. So, now we have a nice stack, and we hang them year-round because you know patients will take them different times of the year whenever they need them,” says Jill Campbell, Assistant Nurse Manager
Campbell says the Institute is grateful for the donation.
“A lot of the chemotherapy treatments that we give do cause you to lose your hair, and so we are always advising to keep your head covered for warmth in the winter, to block out the sun in the summertime, and it’s just you know a comfort thing as well. We’re grateful that we can give this to our patients.”
Batavia Business & Professional Women’s Club member Diane Fiorentino, known as the worker bee, says this donation means a lot to her. She started working on helping make the hats about two months before she was diagnosed. She just recently rang the bell at Lipson Cancer Institute.
So, how does it make you feel to see this all come to fruition here?
“Heartwarming. Yeah, heartwarming. Another part of our organization service.”
To learn more about the club, which was established in 1921, visit the link below.
Batavia Business & Professional Women’s Club Inc. | Established 1921
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