Photo Caption: Pictured L to R: Teresa Collins, Director of Oncology; Julie Smith; Penny Evans, Independent Director of Thirty-One Gifts; Sep Evans, Carleen Wells, Mary Edmonds; and Ronnie Wells.

Care Bags for Chemo

An incredible outpouring of community support shattered a fundraiser’s goal this year.

In the Chemo/Radiation Care Bag Fundraiser’s third year, care bags were purchased, filled with items, and delivered to the Hendrick Cancer and Rehab Center for their patients.

Penny Evans, Independent Director of Thirty-One Gifts, hoped to get 131 bags this year, but ended up with 305.

Evans said she started the fundraiser in honor of her friend Shelley Mayer, who was diagnosed with cancer. Today, Mayer is cancer free.

Members of the community purchased bags for $29, and Evans used the commission of these sales to purchase additional items to go inside.

Teresa Collins, RN, BSN, OCN and Director of Oncology, provided guidance on the needed items for patients, and each of the 305 bags was filled with a pocket planner, chap stick, tissues, socks, hand sanitizer, and candy.

Also placed in each bag was a pen and paper set donated by Touchstone Bank and Mary Kay hand creams, donated by Tanya Baskerville, Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant.

A number of community members assisted with filling each bag and delivering them to the center.

Evans was especially appreciative of her husband’s, Sep Evans, help and support, in addition to the community who made this fundraiser the most successful year yet.