If it has been a while since your class or schools has done any community service, I would like to give you an idea:  go take a look at a new blog called Cupids for Cancer.  Did you know that pediatric oncology departments at children's hospitals all over the country are in need of individually wrapped snacks and bottled juices or water that can be given to their patients while they are at the hospital for radiation or chemotherapy?  Being able to eat healthy snacks and stay hydrated helps fight off those sick cells and replace them with healthy cells. This blog gives you ideas on how you can start this community service project at your school and even gives ideas about how to make it interesting and fun while kids help other kids!

From the Children's Hospital

Cupids for Cancer and Children’s Hospital at Erlanger

The cancer center at Children’s Hospital has many fun things to do while kids wait to get chemotherapy, blood products, and medicine. One of those rooms is our family kitchen.

The family kitchen is a place where kids, siblings, parents or anyone with the patient can go and have a snack. We have everything from chips to popcorn to frozen foods to string cheese and jello. When kids are getting treatment here, they could be here for over 8 hours sometimes. Some kids will come once a week and some kids will come two, three, four or five days a week to see us. When a parent has a sick child they rarely want to leave their side and having the kitchen so close it is a convenient is a blessing.

Kids look forward to coming in and checking out what we have to eat. Many children who are taking chemotherapy or steroids have changes in their taste buds daily or weekly. One day a child may want something spicy, like flaming hot cheetos. Another day, they may want icing covered animal crackers. You just never know!

We are thankful to all the school who will be participating in Cupids for Cancer!

Just remember. We need single serving items! For infection control reasons, we can’t have large bags or boxes of food that kids hands enter in and out of.

Thank you for helping out the kids in your community fighting Childhood Cancer!

Ashley Zani

Child Life Specialist

Peyton's Story

Peyton was diagnosed with Stage III High Risk Neuroblastoma on May 30, 2008 at the age of 2. He was given a 30% chance of survival. Our journey started on June 2, 2008. Peyton underwent six rounds of chemo therapy, 23 rounds of radiation, Stem Cell Transplant and Accutane therapy, countless surgeries, 100+ days inpatient for treatment and sickness.

As a parent, I never imagined this would happen to my child. I felt like my world was crashing down around me.

Peyton was a trooper and after 15 months of treatment his little body showed No Evidence of Disease.
We still go every six months for scans and lab work to make sure there are no monsters lurking around. Peyton continues to live life to the fullest and be a normal and healthy 6 year old little boy.

Thank you so much for supporting this awesome cause.. this could be your child.

With Hope,
Brandi- Peyton'’s Mom

Do It For Rachel!

This is Rachel, one of the patients at TC Thompson's Children's Hospital with all of last years' goodies from Dupont Elementary in Chattanooga, TN  (the home of Cupids for Cancer).  We were able to deliver over 1,800 snacks and they filled up an entire stretcher!!  We had prayed that Rachel would be clear and free and enjoying her life as a basketball player.  However, Rachel is back at TC Thompsons for more visits with the oncology staff.

So to Rachel:  We wish you many more basketball games, lots of 3 pointers, stamina, hope, and we send you our love and prayers.  Enjoy the next stretcher full of treats that will be coming your way this month!  We love February around here!!

Sincerely,
Dupont Elementary
Red Bank Elementary
East Brainerd Elementary
West View Elementary
Brown International Academy

P.S.  We have schools in Texas, Maryland, and Indiana also participating!

(Note from the webmistress:  If I forgot your name and you are from a school that is participating, please leave it in the comment area below.  I did not forget you on purpose, but, I am watching the trees sway back and forth while we are in a tornado watch and got distracted!)

Have a good day all!

Here is an example of what we send home with our students.  You may copy and paste this into your own document and 'jazz' it up.  There is also a printable version stored under the printables button!

ATTENTION STUDENTS AND PARENTS

BECOME A CUPID FOR CANCER

Celebrate your health by helping others!!!

You are invited to help collect individually wrapped snacks for the oncology patients at our local children's hospital.

Please bring:

Crackers     Fruit Bars     Gummy Snacks     Granola Bars      100 Calorie Snack Packs

Raisins      Dried Fruit     Juice Boxes       Flavored Water       Bottled Water

PLEASE BRING SNACKS IN DURING THIS TIME:  _____________________________

Help us in celebrating the hospital's medical successes by donating two boxes of snacks per student.  Feel free to include a sticker on the box noting that the snack was given "In honor of..." or "In memory of" a loved one.  The snacks will be taken to the oncology department at our local children's hospital and will be given to the pediatric cancer patients while they receive their treatments.  We ask that you join us so that these treatments become a little bit easier.

THE CLASS THAT WINS WILL RECEIVE A SURPRISE PARTY!!

Valentine's Quotes

At our school, we change the character education quotes to match our 'occasion' if we are doing something special. So, here are some quotes we will be using this year:

"All you need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."--Charles Schulz (Charlie Brown)

"If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love."--Maya Angelou

"For you see, each day I love you more today, more than yesterday, and less than tomorrow."--Rosemonde Gerard

"The love of a family is life's greatest blessing."--Anonymous

"At the end of the day I am happy knowing I am loved."--Jennifer Brown

By the way....did I tell you that at my school, the class that brings the most snacks wins a pizza party?

Get The Ball Rolling!

Love is in the air!

It is time for us to begin collecting snacks for Cupids for Cancer!  Each year we collect healthy snacks for patients at our local pediatric hospital to eat while having radiation or chemotherapy.  Being able to eat while these medical processes are done allows them to grow strong red blood cells which fight the cancer!

We CHALLENGE your school to join us in the 'Battle of the Cupids' to collect the following:
individually wrapped healthy snacks with extended expiration dates as in:  Goldfish, fruit bars, fruit gummies, cheese crackers (no peanut butter), Cheez-Its, 100 calorie snacks, non-refrigerated juice boxes or juice in plastic bottles.

Here is how you can make this fun!  Cupids for Cancer collection dates should be at least 1 week long! We normally do either the week of or week after Valentine's Day at my school.  We have scheduled these events at my school.

Monday--Rockin' My Pink Socks Day

Tuesday-- Paint it Pink (Door Decoration Day--Advertise Cupids for Cancer)

Wednesday--Have a Heart Hat Day (Bring in a snack to wear a hat!)

Thursday--Pink Pal Day--Donate a Snack For a Pal

Friday--Cupid's Dance Celebration  (Any student that has donated 10 snacks or more will be going to celebrate their health!)

If you would like to join us is collecting snacks for your community's children's hospital, please leave us a comment and let us know!  We can add you to our map!  We would love to help you get started and have someone to have some friendly competition with!

Stay tuned for more information!!!