Community Corner
Oak Forest Woman Delivers Christmas Early for Teens Fighting Cancer
Oak Forest Woman Delivers Christmas Early for Teens Fighting Cancer
Oak Forest resident along with the women of Moraine Valley Church celebrated the spirit of giving during a backyard Christmas in July celebration gift card drive to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation. 13 parishioners raised $655 in gift cards, $200 and toys to help teens fighting cancer.
Oak Forest resident and host Barb Kouba asked fellow Moraine Valley Church parishioners to bring gift cards to her Christmas in July backyard party. Barb said, “It was such a sweet time of Christian fellowship. This group of women has a real heart to help hurting people. Everyone knows someone who has been touched by cancer. These women are all about meeting a need and their heart for God lends itself to generosity.”
Treasure Chest Foundation CEO and Founder Colleen Kisel said, “We are extremely grateful to the Women of Moraine Valley Church and host Barb Kouba for their love and support. Summers are hard on charities. It is amazing to receive such a tremendous donation. Their support will help so many brave teens battling cancer.”
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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 30th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of this year.
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.
