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Organization focuses on cooking up hope |
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Lauri Scott-Smith, center, administrative assistant for the Cancer House of Hope, reviews logistics for a forthcoming cookbook with committee members Connie LaBrecque, Erica Brunell, Katherine Pendleton and Nancy Greenwood, Reminder Publications photo by Lori Szepelak
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By Lori Szepelak - Correspondent
WESTFIELD " If you have a tried-and-true recipe that you would like to donate for a great cause " the Cancer House of Hope cookbook committee would like to hear from you.
Currently in the planning stages, the small cookbook committee includes Connie LaBrecque, Erica Brunell, Katherine Pendleton and Nancy Greenwood, led by Lauri Scott-Smith, administrative assistant for the Cancer House of Hope (CHH). The CHH has two locations, 86 Court St. in Westfield and 946 Plumtree Rd. in Springfield.
It was a project we had discussed more than a year ago but put on the back burner, Cheryl Gorski, CHH executive director, said. Considering the current state of the economy and challenges in regards to fundraising, we decided to revisit the cookbook project as a possible source of revenue for CHH.
Gorski emphasized that CHH s mission is to provide support, hope and encouragement in a comfortable, home-like setting.
Given that, we believe the cookbook is a perfect project for us, Gorski added. Cooking is often an activity that brings together family and friends in the comfort of one s home, and the Cancer House of Hope is often a second home to those who come here at such a difficult time in their lives. The idea of creating a CHH cookbook just seemed like an ideal fit.
Gorski noted that the cookbook is an ideal project because it will be a community effort in addition to the work upfront by CHH s staff, members and volunteers. Scott-Smith added that CHH will have an intern from Westfield State College this spring who they hope will also have an integral role in the production of the cookbook.
Currently, Scott-Smith and her committee have begun the arduous task of deciding the style of the cookbook, the printing logistics and type styles. During a recent meeting of the committee, they noted that recipes are needed in a broad range of categories.
Anyone can submit recipes, Gorski said. We assume, however, most of the people who will submit recipes will have been touched by cancer in some way, whether they are survivors themselves or is a family member or friend of someone who has had cancer.
Gorski and Scott-Smith hope to raise a couple thousand dollars from the sale of the cookbook later this year, but will also be happy if they can turn a profit after expenses.
Every little bit helps in a non-profit organization the size of ours, Gorski said. The revenue generated from the sale of this cookbook stays in our local community and will help us continue to provide free programming and services to people with cancer as well as their family and friends.
Area residents interested in submitting recipes for the Cancer House of Hope Cookbook can mail them in to either location or fax them to 562-0236 (Attn: Recipe Committee). Individuals submitting recipes are asked to include one s name and contact information in the event there is a question on the recipe.
For more information on any of CHH s programs and services, call 562-0110 or 782-5500 or visit www.cancerhouseofhope.org.
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