Hope Hollow

Our largest program service is in the area of lodging/shelter for cancer patients and their loved ones who are traveling away from home to seek cancer treatment in our city, Columbus, Ohio. Hope Hollow s mission is to serve those cancer patients who are financially in need and must travel for specific treatments in Columbus which are unavailable where they reside. We want to note that all of our referrals are received from oncology social workers, nurse navigators, and other medical personnel who serve and treat cancer patients at the various medical institutions in our city. Without support, many of the patients we serve would be unable to afford the costs involved in traveling to seek their best medical treatment. We have known of patients/families and friends of the patients to even sleep in their cars due to their inability to afford lodging while seeking life-saving treatment. Many others may elect to forego the treatment needed without the support of Hope Hollow.

Also Hope Hollow offers a program service providing meals/food for cancer patients financially in need. We have been deeply moved by the stories of cancer patients and their loved ones that we serve. One patient was receiving chemotherapy in the morning, radiation in the afternoon, and was eating every third day because of the financial inability to purchase food. This person shared with us that between eating every third day, they would drink a lot of water to feel full and not be hungry. In another instance, the husband of a cancer patient with metastatic breast cancer was not able to work because he wanted to be with his wife who was in intensive care in the final days of her life. As a result of his lost wages, he was only eating every several days. In closing, our journey with our non-profit Hope Hollow has been humbling for us. As we are invited to share in the journey of those we serve, we in turn have become deeply aware of a need that too often goes unseen. Our hope is that the mission of Hope Hollow is making a difference for those in need.

Another program service that is offered is in the provision of transportation assistance, typically in the form of funds for fuel. As mentioned previously, many of those we serve would be unable to seek needed treatment for their cancer without the support of Hope Hollow in meeting their transportation needs. Frequently, we receive referrals from the oncology social workers requesting gasoline gift cards because a patient has borrowed money to be able to travel to Columbus, Ohio, for cancer treatments, but does not have the financial means to pay for transportation costs necessary for them to return home.