December 5th Fund

THE DECEMBER 5TH FUND'S PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE FAMILIES AFFECTED WITH CANCER A STRATEGICALLY PLANNED OUT DAY TO STRENGTHEN FAMILY VALUES, WHILE ALSO OFFERING IN-HOME MAINTENANCE SERVICES FOR THE FAMILY SUCH AS HOUSECLEANING, MINOR HOME REPAIRS, LAUNDRY, AND LAWN CARE REGARDLESS OF RACE, ETHNICITY, OR ORIGIN.

OUR GREAT DAY PROGRAM IS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE DECEMBER 5TH FUND. IT WAS INSPIRED BY THE LAST GREAT DAY THAT OUR FOUNDER AND HIS CHILDREN HAD WITH HIS LATE-WIFE BEFORE SHE PASSED AWAY FROM CANCER A MONTH LATER. IT WAS A DAY FULL OF SMALL MOMENTS THAT STILL CONTINUES TO INSPIRE COUNTLESS FAMILIES ACROSS THE ST. LOUIS REGION. THIS PROGRAM IS MORE THAN JUST AN EXCITING AND RELAXING DAY OUT FOR A FAMILY WITH A SICK LOVED ONE. IT'S A DAY TO GET BACK ONE OF THE MOST PRECIOUS COMMODITIES IN LIFE WHILE YOU'RE CARING FOR SOMEONE WITH CANCER - TIME. OUR TEAM GIVES FAMILIES A DAY THEY WILL NEVER FORGET, LONG AFTER THE BURDEN OF CANCER IS GONE. THIS DAY COULD INVOLVE BREAKFAST FOR 20 AT A FAVORITE RESTAURANT OR TICKETS TO THEIR FAVORITE SPORTING EVENT. WHATEVER THE FAMILY ENJOYS, WE WILL DESIGN A CUSTOM EXPERIENCE BASED ON THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS. WHILE THE FAMILY IS OUT ENJOYING THEIR DAY, OUR TEAM OF LOCAL VOLUNTEERS WORK TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THE FAMILY RETURNS HOME TO A PLEASANT AND STRESS-FREE SURPRISE. OFTEN, THIS INCLUDES UPDATED LANDSCAPING WITH NEW OUTDOOR FURNITURE, A SPOTLESS AND ORGANIZED HOME, AND THE COMPLETION OF MANY OTHER HOUSEHOLD CHORES THAT BECOME OVERWHELMING WHEN YOU ARE FIGHTING CANCER OR CARING FOR SOMEONE WHO IS. SINCE HELPING OUR FIRST FAMILY IN 2016, THE DECEMBER 5TH FUND HAS PROVIDED GREAT DAY EXPERIENCES AND HELPING HANDS SUPPORT SERVICES TO MORE THAN 90 FAMILIES IN THE BI-STATE REGION. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN SPECIAL EXPERIENCES, IMPROVEMENTS/RENOVATIONS TO HOMES, AND SUPPORT SERVICES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED AT ABSOLUTELY NO CHARGE TO FAMILIES DEALING WITH A CANCER DIAGNOSIS.

THE HELPING HANDS PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO BE AN EXTENSION OF THE DECEMBER 5TH FUND'S GREAT DAY PROGRAM. THOUGH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE SERVICES SIMILAR TO OUR GREAT DAY PROGRAM, WE ARE THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN THE GREATER ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN AREA COMMITTED TO PROVIDING ON-GOING SUPPORT CONNECTED TO HOUSEHOLD MAINTENANCE. OUR PROGRAM IS WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS BASED ON THE AGE OR OTHER DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE CANCER PATIENT. AFTER INITIALLY PROVIDING ONLY GREAT DAY EXPERIENCES, WE LEARNED THAT MANY OF OUR FAMILIES ALSO HAVE A NEED FOR ON-GOING SUPPORT AND CONTINUOUS CARE. FROM THE ONSET OF THE ILLNESS, FAMILY CARETAKERS ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT STRAIN TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY MEMBER THROUGH THE CANCER TREATMENT PROCESS WHILE ALSO MAINTAINING A HOUSEHOLD AND CONTINUING EMPLOYMENT. SOMETIMES THE CANCER PATIENT IS ALSO A CAREGIVER TO THEIR CHILDREN AS WELL. WE WANT THESE FAMILIES TO HAVE THE MUCH NEEDED QUALITY TIME TOGETHER INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT THE BURDENS OF HOUSEHOLD CHORES. WE BELIEVE THE DECEMBER 5TH FUND ACCOMPLISHES THIS THROUGH OUR CONTINUOUS CARE SUPPORT OFFERED WITH THE HELPING HANDS SUPPORT PLAN. THE HELPING HANDS SUPPORT PLAN PROVIDES OUR FAMILIES WITH 3 OR 6 MONTHS OF CONTINUOUS CARE AS THEY NAVIGATE THE DIFFICULTIES OF CANCER TREATMENT. THIS CARE INCLUDES WEEKLY MEAL PREP SERVICES, WEEKLY LAUNDRY SERVICES, HOUSECLEANING EVERY 2 WEEKS, LAWN CARE EVERY 3 WEEKS, AND CHILDCARE ON AN AS-NEEDED BASIS.