Arms Around Bainbridge Programs
Arms Around Bainbridge provides beneficiaries with:
- Direct financial support for medical bills, prescription drugs and medically prescribed supplements, and medical insurance payments
- Direct financial support for rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and transportation to medical appointments
- Partnerships with local businesses and providers for direct access to physical therapy, counseling, pro bono legal services, massage therapy, etc.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
Success from support by Arms Around Bainbridge is immediate and significant. As an all-volunteer organization with few expenses, over 90% of donations go directly and quickly to those in need. Arms Around Bainbridge is currently providing support to four women, all with advanced breast cancer. One of those recipients is a woman named Nellie. In September of 2002 Nellie was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast Cancer and had a bi-lateral mastectomy. After cancer spread to her bones, multiple fractures in her pelvis left her in a wheelchair for 4 months. Cancer spread to her brain and she underwent Gamma Knife procedure to remove 6 lesions. In addition to direct financial support for medical expenses and insurance, Arms recently worked with Lion's Club to provide her with hearing aids at no cost.
While contributions to Arms Around Bainbridge have significantly grown since its inception six years ago, so too have the number of individuals in need. Additionally, as public programs are scaled back or eliminated, the amount of assistance needed has dramatically increased. AAB is aggressively seeking stable and ongoing sources of financial support so that we may may continue to be a safety net for community members with life-threatening illness.