In honor of her father, who died of cancer in 2022, Sidney Church, who is the hall director of Arnold Pryor Place (formerly known as UV1) for The Office of Housing and Residence Life, is spearheading Chemotherapy Care Kits:
āIn August of 2022, My dad passed away following a 3.5-year battle with cancer. Last year, I decided to create Chemo Care Kits in his memory for World Cancer Day, which falls on February 4th each year. The mission of
this day is to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection and treatment. Because of the incredible generosity of others, we were able to package 48 kits with approximately $150 worth of products in each. This year, for World Cancer Day, I will once again be packaging Chemo Care Kits in memory of my dad to be distributed to cancer patients in both Middle and West Tennessee.ā
Last year, Church made an Amazon wish list and posted it on Facebook. She asked friends and family to donate from the list or make a monetary donation. She was able to make 48 care kits. This year, she made another Amazon wish list and is asking people to make purchases from her wish list or to make a monetary donation. Students from UTM have contributed by crocheting hats and making encouraging cards to be added to the kits. This year’s goal is to match last year’s care kits and exceed it.
Items that are being accepted for the Chemotherapy Care Kits are gum, non-scented lotions, chapstick, blankets, toothpaste, toothbrushes, blankets, hats, disinfecting wipes, socks with grippers, hand sanitizer, small inflatable seat cushions and anything else that a cancer patient may want to help them feel better. Donations are being accepted till Wednesday at Arnold Pryor Place suite C106.
The care kits will be delivered to Baptist Cancer Center in Union City and Maury Regional Cancer Center in Columbia, TN, on Feb. 2.Ā
A Chemotherapy Care Kit packing night party will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Cooper Hall basement this Wednesday. All are welcome to help pack the Chemo Care Kits.
For more information or how you can help, email Sidney Church at schurch8@utm.edu.
