Group fills stockings for cancer center
BUTLER TWP — “Team Martina” donated 214 Christmas stockings Thursday to the Butler Regional Cancer Center.
The stockings are for chemotherapy patients and include slipper socks, lip balm, a hat or scarf, books, games, a journal and gift cards. Donations came from the Butler, Grove City and Cranberry Township areas, said Kim Birckbichler of Butler, who leads the project.
Birckbichler began the effort in 2011 after she heard Martina McBride sing the cancer anthem “I’m Gonna Love You Thru It,” and met the cancer survivor featured in the music video. This year, the project drew more volunteers as word spread, and “Team Martina” was born.
“I’m just overwhelmed and humbled by the generosity of this town (Butler),” said Birckbichler in an e-mail. “These stockings were filled by people who have their own bills to pay, their own families to buy for this Christmas, and they cared enough to care for someone else, someone they’ve never met ...”
Birckbichler received donations from friends, family, the GraceWay Community Church in Butler, Rider Lutheran Church in West Sunbury, staff of the Butler School District, staff of the Double Image Styling Salon, the Meridian Vets Club Auxiliary and the Meridian Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary.
Among all the volunteers, several women who are cancer survivors stand out.
Sandi Wilson of Center Township received a stocking in 2011 when she was a chemotherapy patient at the cancer center. This year she worked with the women’s group at her church, Rider Lutheran Church, to fill and donate 28 stockings.
Cheryl Schaefer of Butler, who leads the Butler Breast Cancer and Women’s Cancer Support Group, wanted to help, too. Schaefer is a stage four cancer survivor.
Along with recently-diagnosed group member Edie Kern and others, they filled and donated six stockings. The support group has more than 70 members and meets at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at Butler Health System East, 127 Oneida Valley Road.
