Exciting things are happening this month at Bree's Blessings! Check out information on the Spring Craft Market, our upcoming open house, and updates about our wish gifts! |
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Say Cheese!!! Meet Wish Kid Annabelle! Isn’t she adorable?! Annabelle asked for a digital camera and her Mom said she loves it and is already taking pictures!! We also sent her a bunch of art supplies!! |
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Artist of the Month Our featured artist this month is Reid! Reid was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma in 2019. He loves Minecraft, Legos, and swimming. He also enjoys making crafts and taking photos. He is always excited to receive his Blessings Boxes! It helps relieve his stress and express his creativity. |
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Open House At Our New Office! Please join us for an open house. Check out our new space and learn more about what we do. Refreshments will be served. Also, help us remember Bree as this is the day before her death day. She will be gone four years on the 13th. |
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Anniversary of Bree's Blessings |
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June 13th marks the 4th Anniversary of Bree's Blessings. June of 2018, after 2 1/2 years, Bree lost a hard-fought battle to Ewing Sarcoma. In her final weeks of life, Bree gave precise details of what she wanted her charity to be. Her love for art and music became an outlet and helped her cope with the changes in her body and her mind. Our nonprofit now celebrates Bree's memory by providing pediatric cancer patients with opportunities to further their interests in art and music to cope with their diagnoses and treatments. |
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STUDIO 1883 Spring Craft Market Update! |
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On May 14th Bree's Blessings had the privilege of being selected as the charitable donation beneficiary of Studio 1883's Spring Craft Market! All proceeds from the raffle and 50% of booth rental fees were donated to Bree's Blessings! Our grand total was $707.25! Thank you, Studio 1883, for allowing us to participate in this event! The local vendors were excellent, and we were so excited to catch up with all of Bree's Buddies who came out to visit us! |
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Emma Stein's Book Signing David Caudell, a local author, recently held a book signing for the release of his upcoming children's book series, “The Adventures of Emma Stein”. During the signing he held a raffle for Bree's Blessings and raised $75. The series is about a girl who is created in a lab by two mad scientists. She lives in the town of Grave Acres which is populated by humans and monsters. The books series highlights life lessons for children while showing them it’s okay to be different and unique. She attends school, meets friends and even deals with that dastardly vampire Victoria! Join Emma Stein in her adventures by picking up her first book, “Emma Stein’s First Day”. |
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Arts & Crafts Drive! We want to thank Southeast Christian Church Indiana Campus morning bible study for their AMAZING donation of arts and crafts supplies, headphones, makeup, and toys to pediatric cancer patients! Please let us know if you have a church group, troop, organization, or business that would like to donate items! |
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Bree's Blessings has been lucky enough to receive a large clothing donation! To date, we have been able to fulfill approximately 40 orders! We were so excited to pass on this gift to the families of our wish and blessings box kids along with other non-profits in the area to families in need. |
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NATIONAL CANCER SURVIVOR DAY Please celebrate with us on June 5, 2022! On this day we recognize cancer survivors, raise awareness of the ongoing challenges cancer survivors face, and – most importantly – celebrate life. |
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Staff Spotlight: Allison Vanover Allison Vanover is the Vice President of Bree’s Blessings. She loves her position and being part of Bree’s mission to help other kids battling cancer. Allison followed Bree’s story and prayed for her so many times. "I decided to do a fundraiser for her, and on the day of the fundraiser, my grandson, Iliad, was diagnosed with ATRT Brain Cancer. The amazing ladies on the board helped us and were there for us during our darkest days. After he passed away, my husband and I volunteered a few times, and then I was asked to be on the board. I loved it instantly!" Allison said her favorite Bree’s Blessings event would be Beats for Blessings. "It was so much fun, and I loved seeing our kids and families having a great time. My favorite part of Beats for Blessings last year was when Jenni and Matthew danced together.'' In Allison's free time, she enjoys shopping and traveling to hang out with her adult children. |
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Cards for a Cause Suzy Sanders, former VP of Bree's Blessings, is helping host a card fundraiser for us through Usborne Books & More. The fundraiser will kick off on June 20th and will be posted on our Facebook page. You can purchase a box of 30 high quality cards for $30. The options include "All Occasions", "Holiday Cards", "Thanks & Blanks", & "Kids Birthday". We will earn free boxes from your purchase and you'll have amazing cards on hand when needed. We use a lot of cards at Bree's Blessings and this will be a big blessing to us. Thank you, Suzy! |
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Father's Day Father's Day falls on Sunday, June 19th this year. We would like to extend a Happy Father's Day to all the great men out there! Childhood cancer dads don't get enough recognition for all they do while the family goes through the unthinkable. These dads usually have to stay home while their child receives treatment because they are now the only source of income. Can you imagine being worried sick about your child but having to push through every day and maintain a high level of function? So, Dads - we see you and we appreciate your efforts. You are rockstars in our book! Enjoy your day! |
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From the President's Desk June is my least favorite time of the year. It should be a good month. We married in June and will be celebrating 23 years of marriage on the 12th. However, 4 years ago on that exact date our sweet daughter started transitioning - leaving her earthly body for her eternal wings in heaven. She died on the 13th at 10:13 a.m.
I can't comprehend how 4 years have passed without her in our lives. It's everything I imagined it would be though - a living hell. A very bright light in our lives was extinguished that day and every day seems dark and gloomy, even on the good days. Losing a child is unlike any loss. Over the last 4 years I've heard so many people say they "cannot imagine". I think you can though. It's exactly what you think of when you think of losing your child. It's emptiness, sadness, anxiety, and desperation. It's walking the streets and looking for someone who resembles her. It's watching old videos just to hear her voice once more. It's looking for any sign that she is ok - a feather, a dragonfly, a cloud, whatever it might be.
I have a different outlook on life now. I'm no longer afraid of death. In fact, it's something I look forward to now. I cannot wait for the reunion with my sweet Bree. It's going to be glorious. So yes, 4 years have passed and it's awful but I'm 4 years closer to being with her again and that's how I press on. Mothering my child has taken on a new form. I now parent an organization. Bree's Blessings is my "Bree" now. I'm extremely passionate about what we do and feel like I'm/we're doing exactly what needs to be done to carry on Bree's legacy and help other children who are facing the same struggles she did. Thank you so much for supporting Bree's mission. We are all working hard for her! |
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Upcoming Dates: June 12th - Open house 2pm-4pm June 21 - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 12pm June 23rd - Volunteer Information Session 5:30pm -7pm July 9th - Family Fun Day on the Farm at Huber's - Volunteers Needed. |
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