Barrington businesses, donors step up to support people with cancer

Thanks to generous donations from private donors and Barrington-area businesses, a local support group made and distributed 150 gift baskets for people with cancer last week.

Inverness resident Melissa Palmer, who founded Soul Survivors with Chrissie Mena and Mandy Garcia last year, said the group was able to raise about $20,000 in donated goods for the baskets in just a matter of days.

“None of the businesses we worked with said no,” said Palmer, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. “We couldn't have raised this without the businesses.”

The long list of Barrington area businesses that helped includes Egg Harbor Cafe, Long & Company Jewelers, the Catlow Theater, Pure Juice, Derick Dermatology, Heads Up Apparel, At Your Service Catering, Barrington Detailing, Phillips Mensware of Barrington, Grassroots and Kooker's. Palmer said the group also received significant donations from individuals.

“We thought we were done with 100 baskets, but Dr. Jessica Bertoglia out of the blue of Facebook said she liked what we do and offered to sponsor 50 more baskets,” Palmer said.

Palmer said the group, which holds support meetings monthly, now plans to distribute gift baskets every three months. The group also donates four weeks of meals to people who live in the 60010 area code undergoing chemotherapy.

Palmer, who in addition to surviving breast cancer suffers from the rare Pompe Disease, said the group has helped her deal with her illnesses.

“It absolutely helps keep me motivated and survive with the illness,” Palmer said.

Palmer encourages those in the area who are suffering or whose lives have been touched by cancer to join the Soul Survivors Facebook Group at Facebook.com/groups/Cancersoulsurvivors.