Enfield woman discovers Chemo Angels divine

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Through the Internet, Staci Krug of Enfield discovered a program that not only brings her a great sense of happiness and well-being but one that does exactly the same for people she has never met.

The program is Chemo Angels, which last February added a second segment, Senior Angels.

Krug wrote the Bangor Daily News recently to inform others about the all-volunteer programs that are so simple, but so necessary and welcome, that I would think many people would want to get involved.

The premise behind Chemo Angels and Senior Angels, founded by Californian Laura Armstrong, is to bring a ray of sunshine into the lives of people with cancer and people living in nursing homes. The service is conducted through the mail.

All that is asked of you, as either a Chemo Angel or a Senior Angel, is that each week you send encouraging cards or letters to your assigned person, or perhaps give small gifts on holidays, birthdays or special occasions.

Some volunteers include bookmarks, stickers other decorative work in their weekly mailings. Volunteers must be at least 21 years old.

Krug said that after you register, “it takes about two to five weeks before they assign you a person. They do try to find one with similar interests, so you have more in common.”

And while Chemo Angels stay with their patients through treatment, “you more than likely won’t meet them,” she added. “My patients, for example, have been in Arkansas and all across the U.S.”

Krug became involved with the nonprofit, all-volunteer Chemo Angels program because several of her family members have died of cancer, and she thought “this was a good way to give back for all the support” her family has received from churches, friends and family members, she explained.

When Senior Angels was added, Krug decided to participate in that as well, for two reasons.

First, she said, “I lost both grandmothers by the time I was 7, so it’s kind of like adopting a grandparent,” when you are assigned an older person living in a nursing home.

And now her mother-in-law and father-in-law, who are in an Iowa nursing home, are enrolled in the Senior Angels program, too.

“They are both recipients,” she said, “and they can’t believe somebody who hasn’t met them could care so much.”

According to the Chemo Angel Web site, Armstrong founded the program after meeting a woman through the Internet who was undergoing chemotherapy.

Armstrong began sending the woman cards and small gifts each week while she was in treatment.

Writing to thank Armstrong for her thoughtfulness, the woman nicknamed her “Chemo Angel, which gave Armstrong the idea for the Chemo Angel Web site.

Krug was in touch with Armstrong recently about the new Senior Angels program.

Armstrong reported that a cook in a nursing home signed up one man who neither had visitors nor received any cards or letters in seven years, Krug said.

“He couldn’t believe what a difference it made in his life; that somebody cared enough to write two or three times a week.”

Anyone who knows someone with cancer or living in a nursing home knows how important it is to receive encouragement and good wishes from others.

Personal visits, when possible, are wonderful. But, it’s also enjoyable to receive mail.

Is there any one of you who doesn’t check to see what came in the mail today?

If you want to know more about volunteering as a Chemo Angel, visit www.chemoangels.com. For more information about Senior Angels, visit www.chemoangels.com/elderangels.htm.

If you would rather learn about the programs from Krug, call her at 732-3542 or e-mail krugfam@midmaine.com.

Congratulations are extended to five individuals who were honored for their service to the community by the Bangor Noontime Rotary Club.

Named Paul Harris Fellows were Wilma Bradford, Martha Dudman, Dr. Robert Feher, Charles Rauch Jr. and Robinson Speirs, who was also presented the club’s Vocation and Community Service Award.

In each of their names, the Bangor Noontime Rotary Cub makes a $1,000 contribution to the Rotary Foundation to help support educational and humanitarian work throughout the world.

Among its other endeavors, Rotary contributions and support have helped eradicate polio from most parts of the work, with the goal of being polio-free by 2005.

To help with the restoration of the wood-barred jail in the basement of the Monson Museum, volunteers are hosting their annual chicken barbecue at 4 p.m. today at the museum.

Annalee Libby reports proceeds will help not only with that project, but with cement work performed on the basement floor of the museum.

The public is invited to attend the benefit barbecue.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.