Rutherford Regional Health System

Cancer Resource Center volunteers who make items are, from left, Mildred Rollins, Christine Lowry, Ann Hutchins, Barbara Bessette, Hildra Crook, Ruby Evans and Crissy Bush.

    Providing care for someone with cancer means much more than chemotherapy or radiation, biopsies and medications.

    Sometimes it’s doing something as simple as giving a breast cancer patient a knitted cap or a lung cancer patient a crocheted blanket.

    Items like those – as well as earrings and pillows – are made by volunteers who want to use their talents to help impact the lives of those struggling with cancer.

    “I wish I could magically capture the patient’s reaction when they receive these homemade articles and share it with the ladies who work so hard to provide them,” said Cancer Outreach Program Manager Jamie Ingraham. “Each article is obviously made with so much love. Patients are so grateful – some have just about cried with appreciation.”

    Crissy Bush, whose grandmother taught her to crochet, became involved after seeing a woman in a restaurant with “the cutest hat.”

    “I asked her where she got it, and she told me she was going through cancer treatments and got it from the Cancer Resource Center,” Bush said. “I decided then I was going to learn to make a hat.”

    She started around Thanksgiving, and has already donated more than a dozen hats to the Center.

Ann Hutchins knew about the Cancer Resource Center from her own experience with cancer. She not only makes items for other patients, but also promotes the Center as a place for those undergoing cancer treatments to receive items.

    “I know some patients who don’t have a lot of money, and it’s good to be able to tell them where they can come to get items,” she said.

    Cancer patients don’t need to make an appointment, and can simply stop by Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. for assistance, Ingraham said. The center is staffed by cancer survivors who can help those undergoing treatments to find a hat, wig, pillow or blanket.

    Making items for those with cancer has become a type of ministry for the women.

    “I think when you’re sewing and doing you talk to God all the time,” said Mildred Rollins.

    “There are so many people with so many needs,” said Crystal Pough. “This is how I can show God’s love in a small way.”

    If you would like more information on the services offered by Rutherford Regional