Gifts of Hope: Keeping the pantry stocked

By Michael Wyner/ Staff Writer

Thursday, November 30, 2006

This group of women has as much energy and determination as those Charlie's Angels once did on TV.

But our very own Christopher's Angels are a bunch of local moms determined to create a cozy apartment for families with children undergoing cancer treatment at Mass. General Hospital.

Sudbury resident Tanya Broadbent, a Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor herself, who was diagnosed when her youngest of three boys turned 1, first got involved in the Christopher's Haven charity after reading about it in the Town Crier.

"My husband and I don't have family in the area, but we had really supportive neighbors who took care of us when I was going through chemotherapy. We were lucky to have a strong support network," said Broadbent.

"So I had to give back in some way. Mass. General is a fabulous hospital, and people come for this cancer treatment from all over the country, and we want the families who stay at Christopher's Haven who come from far away to get that instant support network."

Broadbent and her husband Guy, who is now on the board of directors of Christopher's Haven, were determined to supply the charity's first apartment at 10 Emerson Place with all the basic essentials, including linens, kitchen appliances, an ironing board, and everything else necessary. Jordan's Furniture had already generously agreed to supply the furniture.

When Broadbent asked for some help from friends Jamie Dorsey and Lynn Migliozzi, they responded by becoming full partners in the venture.

"Tanya asked if Lynn and I would help her pick out some supplies for the new apartment," Dorsey recalls, "and I told her you can't buy all this stuff and do it all yourself!"

Thus, Dorsey hosted a "shower" at her Sudbury home in late August, inviting all the members of their movie group, with Migliozzi providing a gourmet meal. They created a registry of their wants for the apartment at Target.

"We put absolutely everything on our wish list for that registry," Dorsey said, "and soon people were calling that everything on the registry was purchased and what else could they do."

Dorsey said the energy of the women in the room at their "shower" was infectious.

"You could feel the power of the room. Some of the women got busy washing sheets, while another group of moms was trying to figure out to assemble the vacuum! By the end of evening, all our SUVs were filled with supplies so we could set up the whole apartment."

All the special touches were not forgotten, including artwork for the walls, a donation of silk flowers by Russell's Garden Center, and one of the "Angels" volunteering to handle the drapes.

"In one week it really became this home away from home," Dorsey said. "We'd say that we wouldn't mind staying there ourselves for a week!"

Since the initial setup and decoration, Christopher's Angels has turned its attention to supplying food, toiletries and cleaning supplies for every new family who comes in every six to eight weeks as their child undergoes cancer treatment at Mass. General.

"We're now behind the scenes," said Sudbury resident Dori Mariasis, who has taken the lead on this part of the group's mission. "We sneak in and out before the next family moves in. We'll restock the apartment, and also get a gift for the child to leave on the bed, something special for them, because they'll have a tough few weeks at the hospital."

Mariasis said this first apartment for Christopher's Haven is "fantastic."

"It's got two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a full kitchen and living room. So the family can spread out and not be cramped in an expensive hotel room, which is what would happen if this charity didn't exist."

With the new supplies for each family, Dorsey said these visitors traveling across the country to Mass. General have an easier stay.

"They probably don't have a car, and often one of the parents will have stayed behind with the rest of the children, so it's hard for the one parent here to go out to the grocery store. So we want to supply things like milk, butter and eggs."

Despite all their success, Christopher's Angels will face new challenges as the charity expands and builds more units for visiting families at Mass. General.

But Broadbent said the work is incredibly rewarding.

"We're moms with young kids who have seen adults go through cancer, but to imagine kids going through it is heartbreaking. These families really need our support. So we feel like we're their guardian angels."

For more information in helping out Christopher's Angels, e-mail "t.broadbent@comcast.net"

Editor's note: The Town Crier is once again holding a Gifts of Hope campaign for a local charity. This year we have selected Christopher's Haven, which maintains an apartment for families with children undergoing cancer treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital.

If you can give a Gift of Hope, please make your check payable to Christopher's Haven, and send it to the Town Crier, 33 New York Ave., Framingham MA 01701.

Donors will receive an acknowledgement letter and be recognized in the Town Crier, unless they wish to remain anonymous. Thank you for your support.

Reprinted with permission from the Wayland Town Crier