March is a big month around here. Not only is it Colorectal Cancer Awareness month (Have you heard? We're giving away free screening kits!!) it is also National Social Work Month. A whole month to appreciate social workers? You think that's over-doing it a little? Trust us - it's not.There are an amazing array of employment opportunities out there for a shiny new social worker. There are jobs in counseling clinics, others focused on children's issues, some within governmental agencies, and some of them - like ours - require an ability to work with people who are truly desperate for a ray of hope during a journey they cannot begin to see a pathway through.
And they're not slackers either! In the last six months, the social workers at Hope Cancer Resources have:
- Provided distress screenings for 632 new patients. There are 365 days in a whole year... do the math. These folks are BUSY!!
- Helped 84 individuals purchase 417 prescriptions they would not have otherwise been able to afford.
- Provided 222 patients with financial assistance needs such as rents & mortgages, car payments and gas cards totaling over $61,000. That "busy" thing again...
- Provided one-on-one counseling and support to 15 patients. Not all patients need this, obviously, but when they do, it's a vital component to the overall well-being of the patient and/or their caregiver.
"We thank you so very much for being there for us when we didn't think we had any hope."
"Your help will not only help me with expenses, but help alleviate some of the stress and tension caused by such worries. Thank goodness for organizations like yours, and caring people like you, literally saving patients from some of the stresses that can hinder recovery. Thank you!"
"My daily radiation in Fayetteville was over on Dec. 31 -- what a Happy New Year for me & my family! Your financial help with gas cards was a real help on keeping our gas expenses down, and truly apreciated."
"Thank you for helping me get my smile back!"
(From a patient we helped with dental problems that her cancer treatments caused)
(From a patient we helped with dental problems that her cancer treatments caused)
"We received the generous gas cards today to help us get to Indiana for surgery. We just wanted to thank you for helping to make this difficult journey a little easier to bear."
We are so proud of the work our social workers do for our patients, and so grateful to the community that helps us make their work possible.
Never forget that cancer affects us all...
it's not about "them" - it's about "us".
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