Friends of Karen Delivers Thanksgiving to Sick Children and Their Families

The festive table, the yummy aromas, the pleasure of sharing a holiday meal with loved ones. But for families caring for a child with cancer or another life-threatening illness, Thanksgiving may be just another day of worry at the hospital.

Friends of Karen, a children’s charity that serves 22 counties in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, has a way to make it better: they send these families all the makings of a Thanksgiving meal, so they can spend this special time together -- perhaps the most important gift of all. Here’s how the mother of Jessie, a Friends of Karen child battling leukemia, put it: 

“I just came home from a stressful visit at the hospital and have two boxes waiting for me...how uplifting and beautiful!! Thank you so very much for the Thanksgiving packages! I can't express enough my gratitude. Friends of Karen has been my light the whole time of my daughter’s illness. I never would want you to walk in my shoes, but if for one minute you could you would understand how much this means to my family.”  

Every day, Friends of Karen is a lifeline for hundreds of families. If you can help give a family a happy Thanksgiving, please email gwensalmo@friendsofkaren.org or call her at (914) 617-4051 for a list of specific food items needed.  You can also donate a gift card to A&P, ShopRite or Stop&Shop and we’ll do the shopping!

Friends of Karen is a registered 501(c)(3) charity and the only organization in the New York Tri-State region that provides the vital, practical and comprehensive services that relieves families caring for a child with a life-threatening illness of everyday needs and concerns, so they have more time to love.  Founded in 1978 after helping one child, Karen, and her family, and headquartered in North Salem, NY with other offices on Long Island and in Manhattan, Friends of Karen has touched the lives of more than 12,700 children.