Friends of Karen goes “Back to School”

Won’t you join us?

The summer season is in full swing and most families are preparing for their family summer vacation in August. But at Friends of Karen, we are in full swing in our Back to School mode, tackling our annual goal of providing new school supplies for more than 600 children.

The goal of the Back to School program is to send children helped by Friends of Karen and their siblings back to school in September with some new clothing, and a new backpack filled with pencils, notebooks and other school supplies.

Why do we do this?
Imagine how difficult it would be to shop for school supplies seeing all the healthy children and their parents, while your own critically ill child is hospitalized and unable to attend class. And what if you were faced with having to choose between purchasing a backpack for your “well” child and paying a medical bill for your ill child? Our families with critically ill children are overwhelmed with the medical bills and household expenses as well as the emotional weight of taking care of a critically ill child.

We need your help now. How can you help? We have pledged to give every Friends of Karen ill child and their school age siblings a $25 gift card toward clothing, as well as new backpacks and school supplies. We urgently need gift cards to Target, Old Navy, Sears, Macy’s and Staples. No time to purchase a gift card? We would be very happy with your contributions to buy the gift cards and school supplies on your behalf. Your immediate impact Your participation would mean that our families will have one less expense to worry about, spares them having to shop and provides their children the treat of being just like every other child -- with a brand new pair of sneakers or freshly sharpened pencils. But you will be providing the greatest gift of all – more time for parents to spend with their children.

Your contribution can make such a difference for families caring for critically ill children. Help us make sure that the Friends of Karen children start school with a smile on their face and a brand new notebook in their hands.

PLEASE CONTACT: Denise Tredwell, 914-617-4052, denisetredwell@friendsofkaren.org

Friends of Karen, headquartered in Purdys, New York, provides financial assistance, emotional and advocacy support for children with life threatening illnesses and their families. Friends of Karen was named after North Salem resident, Karen MacInnes. Sheila Petersen, a family friend, had appealed to the community to contribute the funds needed for Karen’s care at home. After Karen died, her family expressed their wish that Sheila continue this mission. Thus the organization that bears Karen’s name has become a permanent part of the Northern Westchester landscape and in over 30 years has expanded to helping thousands of families in the tri-state area.

For further information on Friends of Karen, please visit our website at www.friendsofkaren.org.