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Food fundraiser helps cancer patients
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Published: November 23, 2008
Mary Bryant picked up some sweet potato casserole, two chicken pot pies and bread for Thanksgiving during the Iredell Cancer Fund's annual holiday food sale.
As much as she will enjoy the break from cooking, the food wasn't the sole reason she stopped by Christ Boulevard United Methodist Church on Saturday.
"My husband died of cancer, so I think it's a great benefit," Bryant explained. "I think everyone knows someone who has cancer or someone who has died from it."
Breads, desserts, casseroles, cookies and home-canned goods, donated by about 75 people, stretched across several tables at the church.
"We get a lot of regulars since we've been doing this for quite a few years," said Cancer Fund member Kelly Johnson.
"All of the canned goods go first each year. They're by far the most popular," she added.
One lone jar of pickles was all that was left of the canned items. Breads and Thanksgiving-themed foods, like sweet potato pie, were also being grabbed up quickly.
"We always do this fundraiser the Saturday before Thanksgiving, because it seems to work the best for us," said Jan Spell, another member and a three-time cancer survivor. "We get a lot of families and people who come in and are very excited because they don't have to cook as much and all the proceeds go to a good cause."
All the money raised by the holiday sale helps cancer patients in Iredell County.
"We call their doctors and verify they are legitimate patients and then donate $75 a month to each, by giving them gas cards to get to radiation treatments and paying for prescriptions at the Wal-Mart pharmacy," Johnson said.
In addition to the food fundraiser, local businesses have been raising money independently to aid the organization, which helps about eight people per month.
"Hairs Stylist on Signal Hill Road has been incredible and donated $460 in tips and with the help of their patrons," Johnson said. "I think cancer touches everyone and it's so nice of them."
Bryant's neighbor, Marie Harkey, donated persimmon pudding, pies and cobbler to the sale and stopped back by to purchase rolls and cookies.
"My friend just had breast cancer surgery yesterday and she's in the hospital, but doing well," Harkey said. "She's a wonderful person, and I'm glad the money from this sale stays here in the area to help people like her. It's also good to see what a community can do for people when the need arises."
Holding sourdough and Amish friendship bread, Cookie Crew said that she, too, had friends who had cancer.
"I always try to support events like these," she said. "It was a little harder this morning, since it was so cold, but they have nice stuff, so I'm glad I did."
Johnson said the Cancer Fund brings in about $1,500 each fundraiser. The CW Applewhite Women's Mission also helped by donating a quilt to be raffled off, packaged with a matching tote by Needles and Threads and breast cancer pins.
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