Buy some groceries, change some lives.

Last week we shared some numbers with you that accumulated over the first half of 2011. The needs are great in Northwest Arkansas, and it's gratifying to know that we are doing so much to meet those needs. Our vision is to be recognized as the premier source for comprehensive cancer support services while enhancing quality of life, and we are making good headway.

But visions are successful only if they can be realized. We are no different from the vast majority of nonprofit organizations - we can't make our vision come to life without help. We have a fantastic staff who are committed to their work connecting cancer patients and their families with the support and resources they need throughout their cancer journey. We have a dedicated corps of volunteers who help us in the clinics, at fundraising events, and in the office. And we have wonderful donors and corporate partners in the community who support our programs and events, making the work we do everyday possible.

You are probably familiar with businesses supporting non-profits by providing cash or in-kind sponsorships for programs and events. But have you heard of a point-of-sale donation opportunity? A business asks their customers, usually while they are making a purchase, to join them in supporting a non-profit organization by making a donation. This kind of promotion is a win-win, as it provides a new audience for the non-profit while associating the business with a cause in the community that their customers may believe is important to support. We love these kinds of promotions because they raise awareness as well as dollars. We're grateful to Harps Food Stores for joining us in this kind of promotion for the third year in a row.

Between August 1st and 14th you can make a donation of any size to Hope Cancer Resources when you shop at any Harps Store in Northwest Arkansas (Benton, Washington, Madison and Carroll counties). When you are checking out, just tell the cashier - if they don't ask you first - that you'd like to make a donation to Hope Cancer Resources. It's that easy!!

We are promoting this mini-event on Facebook and we'd love for you to join us there and share it with your own friends. The more who know about us, the more people we can help. And that's what it's all about.

Happenings on the Horizon!

We take our mission statement very seriously. When we pledge to "provide compassionate, professional cancer support and education in the Northwest Arkansas region today and tomorrow" we're not just saying a bunch of words. Call us dreamers, but we truly do want to reach every person in Benton, Carroll, Madison & Washington counties with the education they need to live healthier lives and prevent a cancer diagnosis. FACT: Scientific evidence suggests that about one-third of the 571,950 cancer deaths expected to occur in 2011 could be prevented! We also want to provide every person in our area who is being treated for cancer with the support they need to get through the treatment successfully.

In order to provide the "education" component of our mission we have to reach as many people as we can. We do that by purchasing space on bill boards, running ads in local media outlets, visiting with leaders in the community about our organization, and by posting regularly in social media networks like Twitter and Facebook. To fund the "support" component we reach out to our friends and neighbors to ask for support. We write grants, we solicit sponsors for our programs and events, and we welcome individual donations.

Sometimes we find ways to cover both of these bases - outreach and fundraising - with one project. We hope you can join us for a couple of the following opportunities and help us make a difference in the lives of cancer patients and in the health of our community.

Throughout the month of July Cafe Delta Soul will host Hope Cancer Resources. Every Tuesday night they will donate 10% of the night's proceeds to support our patient assistance and community education programs benefiting Northwest Arkansas. Great food, the friendliest waitstaff in town, drinks in mason jars... what more could you ask??? Grab some friends and help us do what we love doing by doing what you love doing. Eat great food!

Continuing through the summer months we have little boxes on the counters of most of the NWA (and River Valley!) Eureka Pizza locations. Each box lists our social network contact information and our website address. Next time you're getting a great deal on three pizzas (for the price of one!) from Eureka, please drop a little change in the boxes. A little goes a long way for our patients. 

For two weeks in August (August 1-14), Harps Food Stores will be partnering with us for their 3rd annual in-store promotion benefiting our patient services and education programs. When you shop at Harps, your cashier will offer you the opportunity to donate to Hope Cancer Resources by purchasing a little postcard in memory or honor of someone you know who has battled cancer. Harps is a long-time supporter of our work in Northwest Arkansas. Be sure to thank them for supporting our vital services and education programs.

Thank you, Northwest Arkansas, for your past and continued support. We can't do it without you!