Calabria Imports Extends Help to ChristmasWithoutCancer Families

Calabria Imports owner Pat Roberto could feel the positive vibes and good karma entering his shop last week - patrons helping ChristmasWithoutCancer continue to raise funds where it doe most good – locally.

And that explains why there's still a Bikini Panini hot sandwich on the big board for another week, so the creative efforts of those involved will help more families this Christmas.

Founder Gerri Neylon has been surprised over her 15 years at the amount of support she receives financially for families. In recent years she’s been amazed at the creativity that has gone into funding families.

Everything from Adirondack chairs to boxing to rock concerts and grade school door-to-door caroler teams have put their talents into play to help those most in need at Christmas time.

In turn, Neylon has used funds to it pay medical bills, utilities, food, or a gift with pretty paper to place under the tree for a child. Creative as well, Neylon has gone beyond the obvious in assessing need: grooming dogs when a patient is coming home; having a piano tuned so an ailing mother can listen to her daughters play; teaming with a construction firm to build a germ-immune bedroom for a child battling a rare cancer.

Imagine her surprise when her son Marty’s friend and performance artist TJ Kennedy -- aka Uncle Sexy and the Nephews – paired with Calabria Imports to celebrate the release of the band’s new single, “The Bikini Song” to sell the No 4 hot sandwich Bikini Panini, a chicken breast on Tuscan Panini bread adorned with roasted peppers and provolone cheese. With each $9 purchase a single dollar will go to Christmas Without Cancer’s many local families in need.

According to Kennedy, the single “The Bikini Song” paired with rock music melds the major parts of his every day existence to help local businesses and families in need.

Kennedy resides a few door from Calabria Imports and eats there “like every other day,” and identified his favorite charity as Christmas Without Cancer. He joined in to help families “struggling with the burdens of cancer so they can still have the Christmas we all deserve.”

Roberto announced he will extend the Bikini Panini offer until closing on Saturday at Calabria Imports, located at 1905 West 103rd Street in Chicago. He and Neylon gave away CWC tee shirts last Saturday afternoon with purchases.

Donations to CWC can be made on line at: www.christmaswithoutcancer.org or check by mail to CWC P.O. Box 628 Oak Lawn, IL 60453.