the joy of giving: lisa pitts ely cancer foundation

The Joy of Giving

Lisa pitts ely cancer foundation

By anne hicks

It's vital to know where to find help for you and your family when faced with the uncertainty of illness, loss, grief, and loneliness. It's a blessing to find those in the community who unconditionally want to help. Thanks to Chuck Eley who created The Lisa Pitts Eley Cancer Foundation in 2016 after losing his beloved wife to cancer this is a reality in town as the Eley Foundation is providing this vital support for cancer patients and families.

The motto on the website says, "Together We can Take Care of those Who are Battling Everyday", lisapittseleycancerfoundation.com

Together, the foundation provides much relief and sustenance to many families. Since its inception it has reached the hearts and minds of Fredericksburg cancer patients and families and volunteers. Serving local cancer patients with medical needs, doctor ' s visits, household bills, gas, food, and meals and more Eley and all who participate in the activities this foundation offers are pretty much like having a group of Angels and Saints at your service.

This came about in response to how Eley and his family received an act of kindness during Christmas after his wife Lisa passed of Lung Cancer in 2014. The gifts the Eley family received from a group of friends not only helped relieve the pain and loss but was an inspiration to help other cancer patients and their families.

Recently, there was a Halloween Fundraiser in front of Irish Eyes on Caroline Street. This is a regular occurrence on special occasions now for several seasons. The owners of Irish Eyes are the Angels that provide space for fundraising. The space is vibrant in color and character a must place to stop. Eley commented, without Bernadette and Michael Esler owners of Irish Eyes, he wouldn't be able to do it.

It really showed up this year in a visit as the amount of donations in abundance from candy bags, gifts, homemade baked goods multicolored mums, pumpkins, candy apples and much more were generous. A fine display of how the invisible and visible Saints put their heart and soul into this event.

It inspires the joy of giving and receiving and reminds every moment of every day is a time for giving and receiving.

There was a cover picture of Eley on St. Patrick's Day doing the same service as it is a regular act of kindness that takes place outside of Irish Eyes on Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, St. Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day. Yet, it

doesn't stop there. You would recognize him as a Leprechaun next to St. Patrick.

We didn't live in Fredericksburg when my sons lost their father to multiple myeloma cancer but this kind of service is needed everywhere. Without this kind of support families endure more hardships, both interpersonally and financially.

As fall's harvest reminds us of the season's bounty, the gifts of giving and of those who are in need and those who need us are real. Please allow time for pause this Thanksgiving and keep all those who are ill with cancer or other disease, Chuck Eley and Lisa Pitts, her family, friends, the supporters, and the foundation in your life and support their mission.

Visit: lisapittseleycancerfoundation.com

Lisa Pitts Ely Food Pantry

Anne Hicks is a Fredericksburg resident and a contributing writer to Front Porch