Recently, a Housekeeping Associate of Juniper Village, Skilled Nursing – Penny Smith - had been diagnosed with breast cancer during a routine appointment. Two tumors have been removed and Penny is being treated with radiation daily for the next six weeks. As you can imagine, this will not only take a toll on Penny emotionally and physically, but financially as well.
Penny has been employed by Juniper Village at Brookline since November of 2006 and has many long term friends among the Juniper family. Two of those friends, Rene Leigey and Traci Martz, decided to try and raise funds for Penny to help alleviate some of her financial concerns. They planned a pot luck lunch and asked other associates if they might want to donate a dish for the cause. What was to be a simple lunch turned into something much greater. The room was full of enough foods to feed a small army and donations like tie knot blankets, a candy / cookie basket, a movie night basket, a crystal pitcher and glasses, home décor, a matching purse and wallet, and breast cancer pins, were also brought in to be raffled. Everyone wore pink for breast cancer awareness, everyone paid only $5.00 and had a wonderful lunch, and by the days end a total of $1,100.00 had been raised for Penny.
When Penny was given the funds in private she was overcome with emotion, stating “oh my goodness, people do truly care”. Penny is extremely appreciative and will use these funds to assist where needed with medical bills and with time off to recuperate.
This is an example of how a close knit working team is truly a family and will come together when one of their own is in need. This has not only made Penny feel loved, it has made this family of people feel as though they could truly help.
~ Note the importance of routine breast exams for women. Early detection is key. ~
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