Adopt a Cancer Care Cohort Delivery
JOB SUMMARY
About the Cancer Care Cohort Program:
WeCareJax is committed to ensuring all patients receive compassionate care. We are driven to make a positive impact in the lives of patients and their caregivers by alleviating stress and the financial burdens associated with
medical supplies, nutritional needs, support, and resources needed as they undergo treatment and on their journey to recovery. Serving our uninsured neighbors living at 200% or below the federal poverty level, ensuring access to world-class cancer care through our dedicated partners without cost helps to level the playing field for survivability and maintaining the integrity of the family along the way. Of all the care WeCareJax secured for patients through FY 21, the top category was Oncology with 1,041 appointments, valued at $7.7 million (38% of the total value of care donated during the year). While the clinical care is provided through our partners and volunteers at no cost to the patient or their family, we recognize that supporting services, such as transportation, nutrition, prescription co-pays, and medical supplies / durable medical equipment (DME) are vital to ensuring the patient can navigate their clinical care successfully.
Scope of Support Needed:
Cancer patients in active treatment need additional consideration, especially while the pandemic continues to make many activities we all think of as routine a real challenge. While in active treatment, WeCareJax works with
the community to ensure that our patients receive biweekly fresh produce and pantry deliveries to the home, in partnership with a local nonprofit farm alliance. This helps ensure that even during shortages and risks due to the
pandemic, low-touch food options are always available.
While staff have managed the deliveries since the beginning of the pandemic, needs for care and the number of patients served has grown. A volunteer team who chooses to adopt a delivery day can make a meaningful impact in the lives of the patients and help our resources stretch even farther! Delivery day activities include:
a) Host a supply drive – (unlimited volunteers) Prior to you chosen delivery date, working with a wish list of nonperishable pantry items, engage your office or network to donate items most needed to help patients and their families keep their pantry stocked through radiation or chemotherapy.
b) Make the farm run – (one to two volunteers) Fresh produce for the biweekly deliveries is secured through a nonprofit farm coalition located in Palatka, FL, about an hour from the WeCareJax offices (roughly 2.5 hours total time commitment). A volunteer with an SUV or two with sedans could make the farm run and bring produce back to the office for packing before deliveries. Must be able to lift boxes up to 20 pounds and provide proof of auto insurance / sign liability waiver in advance.
c) Pack the care packages – (four-six volunteers) Help put together 20-25 care packages each delivery date. This includes sorting donations and produce, inserting recipes and thinking-of-you cards, decorating the bags for special occasions, etc.
d) Care package deliveries – (min. five volunteers) Deliver care packages throughout the city (vehicle required). Patients are scattered all over, so routes are grouped as closely as possible. Time needed: most routes can be managed in 2.5 hours when a minimum of five drivers claim a route. Must have proof of
auto insurance and sign a liability waiver prior to service, along with patient privacy orientation and nondisclosure agreement.
e) (Optional) Raise dollars to cover produce costs – WeCareJax supports the farmers who make this program possible by paying $150 per run for up to 24 households. Through a small grant, the costs are covered for 12 deliveries a year – leaving an annual gap based on current deliveries, and no room to
expand. Your team could help close the gap and make room for future expansion.
