Girl Scout Project Comforts Cancer Patients at Putnam Hospital

Over the past six months, Caitlin Andersen, a Girl Scout with the Heart of the Hudson Troop 2021 in Mahopac, enlisted the help of other Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, seniors and other community groups in making comfort bags that include necessities for patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation such as hand lotion, hand sanitizers, lip balm, soap, tissues puzzles, hand-knit hats and puzzles.

Andersen is going for her Girl Scout Silver Award, the second highest award a Girl Scout can earn. And the 13-year-old was all smiles this week when she delivered some of the 150 comfort bags she and the community made for cancer patients at Putnam Hospital Center, hospital officials said.

“You really spearheaded an entire community effort,” said Anita Minella, executive director of the Putnam Hospital Center Foundation.

An eighth-grader at Mahopac Middle School, Andersen said she was inspired to make the comfort bags after taking part in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Mahopac.

“I watched the survivors do the survivors’ lap and it was really cool to see,” she said. “I thought about what I could do to make a difference.”

The bags also contain heartwarming cards handmade by her family and friends as well as inspirational messages on the outside of the bags.

Indeed, Andersen was happy to see this project through.

“I feel great,” she said.

Photo caption: Caitlin Andersen, center, stands with, from left, Dianne Toscano, oncology nurse navigator and Anita Minella, executive director of the Putnam Hospital Center Foundation, after delivering comfort bags for Putnam Hospital Center’s cancer patients.