When a cancer diagnosis strikes, it brings more than just a medical battle—it carries financial, emotional, and logistical challenges that can overwhelm patients and their families. Thanks to the Cancer Society of Henry County and the support of the Cancer Society of Henry County Field of Interest Fund and the Pascal E. Garner Designated Fund at the Henry County Community Foundation, dozens of local patients facing these struggles are finding hope and relief.

In 2024 alone, the Cancer Society provided $10,655 in direct assistance to 24 cancer patients, helping them overcome everyday obstacles that became insurmountable during treatment.

“We’ve done everything from gas cards and food assistance to paying for Uber rides so patients can get to treatment,” shared Nancy Lewis, a dedicated advocate with the Cancer Society. “One winter, we even filled a propane tank for a farmer battling cancer who couldn’t work. His family didn’t have heat. That propane got them through the season.”

For one mother of four, enduring chemotherapy made it impossible to get to the laundromat. With the Foundation’s support, the Cancer Society stepped in and purchased a washer and dryer for her home—restoring a small but essential comfort during a difficult time.

Beyond financial support, the Cancer Society offers hands-on help by picking up food from pantries for immunocompromised patients who can’t safely leave their homes. They also collaborate with local hospice organizations to identify families in desperate need of support.

“There are no other agencies doing exactly what we do,” Nancy explained. “We don’t look at income because cancer isn’t income-based—it hits everyone. So many people can’t work during treatment and lose their income entirely. That’s where we step in.”

The ongoing support made possible by the Foundation’s endowed funds ensures that the Cancer Society can continue its mission year after year. Unlike one-time fundraising efforts, these funds provide a consistent payout, offering stability in an increasingly challenging fundraising landscape.

“Because people set up these funds years ago, we’re able to make a difference today,” Nancy reflected. “The payout we receive each year decreases the stress of fundraising. It lets us focus on helping patients instead of constantly worrying about where the next dollar will come from.”

Every dollar given by the Cancer Society makes an immediate impact—helping a patient reach treatment, fill an empty fridge, or simply keep the lights on during an unimaginably difficult time. But behind each dollar is a deeper story: the generosity of donors who had the foresight to create endowed funds through the Henry County Community Foundation.

Without these funds, many of the families supported this year would have had nowhere else to turn. But because of the generosity of the past, the Cancer Society is bringing hope to the present—and the future.

Your gifts to the Henry County Community Foundation make this impact possible. When you support or establish a fund, you create a legacy of compassion that continues to care for your neighbors, even when you’re no longer here. It’s a gift that reaches beyond the present moment—providing comfort, dignity, and hope for future generations.