Letters to the editor

Make season brighter for cancer patients

Cancer patients and their caregivers need your help now! You have the opportunity to become a "Santa Daddy or Mama" enhancing your holiday season by helping others during their "dark night of their cancer journey".

In this joyful season filled with the awe of Christmas - bright festive lighting, decorated trees, holiday foods, beautifully wrapped presents, please remember patients and caregivers who struggle through cancer treatment. These patients and caregivers desperately need help with gas cards to get to treatment; assistance with utility costs and nutritious food to strengthened and rebuild their bodies.

As a cancer "celebrator," I remember the feelings of isolation and total abandonment from any holiday joy. I witnessed first-hand other patients struggling through these feelings. You can make a difference.

The Empowered Lives through the Cancer Journey Foundation, a nonprofit housed at the Sierra Nevada Cancer Center, in the month of December, provided $2,000 in gas cards and food certificates to cancer patients and their caregivers, but we desperately need more help. One hundred percent of all donations go directly to local patients and provide patients and their caregivers with a sense of community support and well beings, which is vital to their recovery.

Please make the season brighter for cancer patients. Any donation is greatly appreciated and may be made in honor of a special friend or family member touched by this horrific disease.

Wishing you a sincere blessed holiday season and an a abundant 2013,

Donation information: Empowered Lives through the Cancer Journey Foundation, 1460 South Curry St., Carson City, NV 89703. For more information call 883-3336.

Susan Sutton and Empowered Lives Board Members

Community helps FISH

FISH would like to thank the generous outpouring from the community that allows us to take care of our neighbors in need.

Our local economy has been struggling for several years, and as a result, there are more families coming to FISH for food, shelter, and medical care. Unfortunately, the economy also has reduced the amount that our donors are able to contribute, and some donors have now become clients. But every day and every week, FISH has had enough food and supplies to take care of those in need. The generosity of our community is tremendous, and we thank all who support our efforts to help stabilize lives, and eventually get people back on their feet.

So whether you have contributed food, time, or money, or donated/shopped in our thrift stores, we say thank you. Without your help, our economy, and community would be suffering so much more.

Jim Peckham

Executive Director FISH