Across America, cancer creeps to the forefront of many peoples’ lives, either by being directly affected by it or by having a loved one impacted by this disease. Almost 2 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed in 2021, according to the American Cancer Society. While the treatment varies from person to person, it’s common for cancer patients to deal with physical, mental, and emotional challenges as they strive to regain their health, and on top of this are all of the financial challenges that are often less widely discussed.
Cancer is expensive. Even with insurance, individuals must still pay for co-pays, transportation to and from appointments, medicine, and more, all on top of the normal costs of living. Unfortunately, there’s not much choice when one’s faced with the need to pay for life saving treatment, but the cost of cancer can be overwhelming, forcing many into financial insecurity and debt.
This is where the organization Bringing Hope Home comes in, to support individuals and families battling cancer. Based out of Malvern, Pennsylvania, Bringing Hope Home aims to alleviate the financial burdens that accompany cancer treatment. Working in partnership with a network of hospitals, specialists, and social workers, the team guides individuals living with an active cancer diagnosis (and who are within a Bringing Hope Home service area) through the grant referral program. The individuals who are awarded grants can use the money towards paying bills such as mortgage, rent, car payments, and utilities.
The mission is deeply personal for the staff of BHH, as cancer has had a presence in most of their lives. This was true of their founder, Paul Isenberg, who started Bringing Hope Home in 2008 to honor his wife, Nicole, who battled Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for years and unfortunately passed away in 2003. Paul’s main goal has always been to build a support system for families going through a similar situation and to give them a sense of comfort and community. Bringing Hope Home’s COO, Amy Seybold, supports the community-building mission and said “We make sure to never refer to individuals as patients, because in our eyes they are family and should be treated as such”.
The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation was first introduced to Bringing Hope Home in 2019 when Sprouts opened its first Pennsylvania store. Seeing the lives that have been impacted since, Sprouts has continued to grow the partnership, most recently with a $10,000 contribution to Bringing Hope Home’s spring fundraiser and 100 x $100 Sprouts gift cards given to BHH families. Reflecting on this, Amy Seybold said, “The cherry on top is giving families gift cards to Sprouts so that they can have plenty of healthy food stocked up. They are so grateful, it is as if they have won the lottery!” Both BHH and the Sprouts Healthy Community Foundation recognize the importance of a healthy, nutrient rich diet to help promote the healing process.
Looking ahead, BHH’s goal is to continue increasing its programs and grants while partnering with more organizations like Sprouts to create a strong community network. Along the way, its team will continue delivering Unexpected Amazingness® to local families who are on a cancer journey. And as long as cancer is still impacting individuals and families in their community, Bringing Hope Home will continue offering its support to help as many people as possible in their battle to overcome this disease.
To learn more, please visit bringinghopehome.org
