Leukemia is an incredibly tragic burden for families with a loved one that is diagnosed. WIth an average treatment duration of 2-3 years, it leaves those impacted with enduring physical, social, and financial duress that is often extremely difficult to overcome for many families. Fortunately there are heroes in this story, and they don’t always come in the package one would expect. Sometimes, the most impactful solutions come in the few and mighty.
Leukemia Texas
Leukemia Texas serves the entire state of Texas, bringing financial aid and support to those diagnosed with leukemia and their families. Even though they only have 2 full time staff members, the organization’s impact is across the entire state of Texas. They have helped thousands of families in its 53 year history. Leukemia Texas provides families $1000 a year without restrictions to help them manage their long term care needs, along with other tangible support for patients. This includes care packages, called Buddy Bags after their founder Buddy Minyard, filled with goodies for kids to promote hope, smiles, and some fun. This effort was one that Charities2Love took on at our recent care package volunteer event.
Volunteering to make Buddy Bags
Our volunteers put together 100 Buddy Bags filled with donated goods that included blankets, toys, games, notes of inspiration, and books from a nonprofit called Hindi’s Libraries. These items were donated by the community. Our volunteers helped gather, package, and ultimately deliver the packages to Texas Oncology Pediatrics in Dallas. These specific bags we made were going out to rural areas where there are reduced resources.
Learning about causes & nonprofits at our volunteer events
Mandy Flaming from Leukemia Texas came to speak to us about the organization, its mission, and how these packages will be directly given to the kids who need them the most. The Power of the Small is real, as we got to learn the breadth and depth of Leukemia Texas’ help as it spans the Panhandle to North Texas, Houston, and beyond. We were fortunate enough to get to learn about the charitable organization and the tremedous impact they make.
Customized Buddy Bags straight to the patients
As volunteers, it was great to be part of such a great cause and help in our small way. I loved the fact that Leukemia Texas is so small and hands on. I loved how the care packages will be directly distributed to the children in need. No middle men, distribution centers, and de facto delivery folk. They even gave us the opportunity to help deliver the packages if we were available! I also liked that that they did not overlook the “fun” that these children need for support, and gave us the freedom to be creative in our bags and fill them with all kinds of fun things to do. Ultimately, it’s the day to day mental and physical strength that these kids need to get to the finish line, and a little fun never hurt anybody!!
Childhood leukemia patients: courageous & resilient
It was a rewarding event for Charities2Love as well as all of its volunteers and donors that supported it. The real heroes in this journey are the children that Leukemia Texas supports as they fight, endure, and more often than not, beat leukemia to live healthy, happy lives. These children are true warriors and an inspiration to all. The Power of the Small.
