Sarah Franzen, income development specialist, and Carolyn McCoy, health initiatives specialist, from the American Cancer Society in Tulsa spoke to a small group of women about reaching the community through volunteers and volunteer-based programs.
McCoy said they wanted to inform the community about free programs that are available through the society.
McCoy said the society would provide materials and guidance for the programs, while volunteers would help find specific sites for the programs within the county.
"We really care about Sequoyah County," Franzen said. "We want to help facilitate programs."
Franzen said what the society is seeking is help from the community to get the word out about specific programs and find volunteers for those programs.
"People in the community know the community," Franzen said.
McCoy said people in the county have raised a large amount of money for Relay for Life, which is an overnight event designed to raise money for cancer research and community programs. During the event, teams of people take turns walking or running laps at schools or parks. Each team tries to keep at least one team member on the track at all times.
"We want to give back to your community because you've given to us," McCoy said.
McCoy talked about the many programs that are available, and received input from the group about which programs would be effective in the county.
Several of the programs that the group decided sounded feasible are the "Look Good, Feel Better" program, which is designed to help women deal with the side-effects of cancer treatment. Licensed cosmetologists volunteer their time to teach patients about wigs, turbans, and headwraps, and make-up tricks that can help a woman regain her sense of self-confidence and help her look good and feel better. The program is usually offered in group sessions, but a self-help kit is available for patients living in areas where no group session is available. The kits contain a 30-minute video, patient instruction booklet, and free make-up.
Other program ideas for the county include setting up a wig room, and getting volunteers for a Reach to Recovery program. "We would like to establish a place here to pick up scarves, wigs, and caps," McCoy said.
The society receives donations of new and used wigs, which are available free of charge to cancer patients, along with hats, turbans, headwraps, and scarves. Currently a wig room is set up in Tulsa and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
McCoy said if an area volunteer could provide the space, the society would provide the wigs.
The Reach to Recovery program is also a program that could work in the area. It is a volunteer visitation program comprised of breast cancer survivors who respond to concerns of patients and their families facing diagnosis, treatment, and effects of breast cancer. A volunteer provides a "listening ear," recommends resources and offers emotional support.
Other programs that the Tulsa society office offers are a guest room program that provides free accommodations for patients undergoing outpatient treatment at a facility at least 100 miles roundtrip from their homes, mileage reimbursement for those who are taking trips for treatment or surgery, air transportation for patients who have to travel more than 100 miles for treatment, and the availability of nutritional supplements and ostomy supplies. McCoy also talked about a Cancer Survivor's Network, which is a telephone and Internet-based source of information and support for cancer patients and family member that can be accessed at www.cancer.org or 1-877-333-4673.
