WORTHINGTON, Ohio — One Central Ohio woman is helping cancer patients of all faiths around the country get some much needed help during some of the toughest times in their lives. And now her non-profit is expanding its efforts, with the help of Next Level Trainings.
- A non-profit is helping cancer patients of all faiths find resources and pay basic bills like rent and utilities
- They're set to open up a C.A.R.E center at the end of January in Worthington
- They now partner with others like St. Jude to help families who need assistance
Making calls to verify application information, two-time breast cancer survivor Mary Jenkins helps people get the resources they need or pay their bills through Christians Overcoming Cancer.
Jenkins started the organization more than a decade ago after going through cancer treatments, which left her unable to work and unable to pay her bills.
She says it was then that she learned many well-known cancer organizations only gave money for research and doctor bills —not utilities and rent.
For Jenkins, providing support like this means the world.
"To be able to help someone else, it means everything."
She says, after she got back on her feet with the help of her church, she became an advocate for others experiencing the same challenges during treatment.
While she always looks to give hope and put a smile on someone's face, her calls don't always turn out the way she expects.
During a recent visit, Jenkins made a call to verify treatment information, so that she could make that call and give someone good news about their bills. Instead, she learned devastating news.
"They applied December the 3rd, and they unfortunately didn't make it, so she's passed away," said Jenkins.
Wiping away tears, Jenkins composed herself and began checking hundreds of voice messages from across the country. Then, she picked up the phone to try again. She was in luck, as John, with stage four cancer, answered.
She told John, "The organization has had an incredible increase in our donations, and as a result, we will pay your rent for February and we'll bring you current.”
Quiet for a moment, John gasped and replied, “Oh sheesh...that would be awesome!” He explained that doctors recently told him there was nothing else they could do for him.
Jenkins says being able to help more people like John these days is a blessing, since the organization relies solely on donations and not grant money.
Soon they'll expand the company's reach as the organization moves out of a one room office and into a building of their own at the end of January. Next Level Trainings is raising $80,000 to aid in their overall mission.
Heading over to the new space, Jenkins said they're hiring people now to serve cancer patients and their families through their Creating Amazing Recovery Experiences program — better known as C.A.R.E. It will provide nutritional, emotional and financial help in a bigger way, but no matter how big or small, Jenkins says being able to be a blessing to someone else is all that matters.
Jenkins says since she started the organization, they've helped over 1500 families, with some of them going on to start their own non-profits to pay it forward.
At the same time, she says they now partner with others like St. Jude to help families who need assistance.
To donate, you can log onto the website here. To learn more about Christians Overcoming Cancer click here.