Community Magazine June 2019

40 Community Magazine The Cancer Center offers many services to families who are impacted by cancer. The Center sends families on vacations, to shows, dinners, sports games, and concerts. They also set up tutors and homework helpers for clients or their kids as well as signing up clients for karate lessons, piano lessons, and guitar lessons. “Our goal is to embrace the patient and family members with warm and caring attention to assure them that they’re not alone during their challenging journey,” said Emily Anteby, Special Events Coordinator at The Center. Lifeline for Community Members The Morris I. Franco Community Cancer Center has helped so many of our community members to date. The Center aids clients of all ages, from newborn to adults. They’ve touched the lives and hearts of the hundreds of people they’ve helped through the most trying times in life. “I wish that the Center was around when I was sick,” said community member Lynda Levy. “I had to go and scramble for a doctor, not sure who I should go to. I had to scramble to get a wig, and so on. Thank Gd I have my family to support me, but now when I look at the patients going to the Center, I feel happy for them. I’m happy that they have a place to turn to in their time of need. The Cancer Center is a blessing, the volunteers are the most amazing people, and they give everything of themselves, wholeheartedly.” Volunteers at The Center The Cancer Center has a program called Caring Connections. With this program, clients who have finished treatments or have neared the end of their treatment connect/pair with newer clients. This gives new clients the opportunity to talk to people who have been in their shoes. “The volunteers offer you a lot of compassion, and you feel very good whenyougo inandwhenyou leave,it’s justa friendly,warmatmosphere,” said a fellow communitymember who spent time at The Center. To become a volunteer, individuals must go through a two- hour group training session with a social worker. They host training sessions bimonthly. The volunteers learn sensitivity training to be able to handle whatever situations may arise. Many volunteers are former clients who are eager to give back to this invaluable community resource. Warm and Loving Care No two clients are exactly alike or have the identical situation. The Center fits the needs of each individual client. They strive to evaluate the needs and wants of every individual, and go from there. Hospitals have commented that there is nothing like this center, and although The Center tries to lend a hand to other centers, other places do not quite have the community warmth and dedication that the Morris I. Franco Community Cancer Center has. “On the one hand you can give surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. But if you pay full attention to the emotional and psychological needs of the individual like you do here at the Morris I. Franco Cancer Center, you can expect a 20-30% improvement in the medical outcome,” said Dr. Herbert Pardes, Past President, New York Presbyterian Hospital. Volunteers and staff at the Center will try anything to lift spirits. The Center focuses on creating a sense of community around each cancer patient and their family so that they know they have a team of people fighting for the best possible outcome. “We have 30 or 40 people coming a week,” said Nancy Sutton, Founder and Director of the Morris I. Franco Community Cancer Center. “We have all kinds of activities and programs, we’re very comprehensive, and we do our best to light up their day. We love being here for them.” Upcoming Fundraiser – Table Set Go TheMorris I. Franco Community Cancer Center has amajor annual fundraiser which takes place in the summer called Table Set Go . This coming summer, the event is set to take place July 17th. Talented volunteers are recruited from the community to create a thematic gallery of table settings which are displayed at the event. Each year the tables have a different overall theme. Hundreds of community members attend Table Set Go to view these magnificently artistic tables andparticipate in the auction. Apanel of clients fromTheCenter addresses the crowd, telling their stories and answering questions. An informative video is presented in order to create cancer awareness, promote The Center’s mission, and fundraise. It’s a multi-faceted day which is always meaningful, very enjoyable, and gives our community an opportunity to support an important community service. For many, the day serves as an eye opener to what support is out there and how truly fortunate we are as a community to have such a place. Morris I. Franco, a”h