From left, GFWC Intermediate League home life committee chairman Elaine Linamen, cancer patient Kathleen Miller and Intermediate League co-chairman Mary Jane Weisenstein check out contents of the cancer patient gift bags the league members delivered to the Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute Butler Office, 102 Technology Drive.

BUTLER TWP — It wasn't just trick-or-treaters who got a bag of goodies this week.

Patients at Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute's Butler office at 102 Technology Drive received patient gift bags Monday courtesy of members of the GFWC Intermediate League of Butler.

Elaine Linamen, chairman, and Mary Jane Weisenstein, co-chairman of the service organization's home life committee, delivered 30 bags to the institute's infusion clinic Monday morning, along with Intermediate League President Phyllis Laporte and member Luella Gold.

Weisenstein, herself a lymphoma patient at the institute nine years ago, said the bags contain knit caps, adult coloring books and pencils, wordsearch books, bottled water, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, lip balm, hand sanitizer and gift cards to a fast-food restaurant.

Linamen said these are all items a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy can use, from word searches to pass the time to water to ease the thirst many drugs cause in patients.

Choosing cancer care gift bags, dubbed by the league as the white bags of courage, was easy, according to Linamen.

“This new project is a way of honoring people in our club who have gone into treatment and to aid other people in our community,” said Linamen.

“Mary Jane is a cancer survivor. I doubt there's anybody who doesn't know someone who has had cancer,” said Linamen.

Once Linamen and Weisenstein decided on the gift bag project work went quickly.

Laporte said, “I believe in empowering women. We have this project and I said, 'Let's go for it.'”

The league raised $615 to pay for bag contents by having a treasure hunt game, said Linamen.

Members assembled the bags at Gold's home.

And Gold said the club has an “in” at the institute.

“My daughter (Lea Ann Donnel) has worked here for 20 plus years,” said Gold.

League members met Angela Taylor, the clinical nurse manager, and patients like Kathleen Miller of Jefferson Township, who has undergone 3½ years of treatment for pancreatic cancer.

Miller said of the bags, “I think it is all very nice. Kleenex is something you can always use.“But there is a variety of things that can bring a smile to the patients,” Miller said.Miller said she undergoes four hours of chemotherapy once every other week, as well as doctor visits and tests.“This has turned into my social life,” Miller said. “When I shop for clothes, it's to wear them here.”Taylor said the bags will be put in the infusion room for patients to pick up as needed.“We'll put them out while they are doing chemotherapy,” said Taylor.Taylor said not only will the gift bags cheer institute patients, but to remind people of the institute.Taylor said despite the institute seeing 50 to 60 patients a day and treating 30 a day with chemotherapy sessions, “people forget its up here. There have been patients that have traveled to other centers before saying, 'I didn't realize there was on office here.'”“We try very hard here to make it a positive experience,” said Taylor, adding the bags helped create that experience.