Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Benefits Children with Cancer

In the spirit of giving, the parishioners of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Lockport are providing comfort to children fighting cancer by hosting a holiday toy drive to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation.

Assumption Greek Orthodox Church parishioner Dorothy Michalarias said, “We want to support the Treasure Chest Foundation and the children they serve.”

Treasure Chest Foundation CEO and Founder Colleen Kisel expressed her gratitude for the support shown by the Assumption Greek Orthodox parishioners, “It is wonderful to see the giving members of this church come together to help little ones whose lives have become filled with doctors, nurses, surgeries, pills, chemotherapy, radiation and mostly painful, painful procedures.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 16,100 young cancer patients in 66 cancer treatment centers in 21 states across the nation and in the District of Columbia. Nowhere else in the nation does such a program exist. Colleen Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. Ms. Kisel discovered that giving her son a toy after each procedure provided a calming distraction from his pain, noting that when children are diagnosed with cancer their world soon becomes filled with doctors, nurses, chemotherapy drugs, surgeries and seemingly endless painful procedures. Martin celebrated his 29th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of 2022.

If you would like further information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, please contact Colleen Kisel at 1-708-687-TOYS (8697) or visit the Foundation’s website at www.treasurechest.org.