WHS Principal Charles Jendrysik, Cancer House of Hope Program Director Margaret Toomey and WPS Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski with $1,150 check. “100% goes to the House,” said Toomey.(Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – Margaret Toomey, the new program director at the Cancer House of Hope in West Springfield, stopped by the Westfield Public Schools district office Oct. 18 to receive a gift.
The gift was a check for $1,150 from a district-wide dress-down day hosted on Oct. 4.
“This is a very important cause,” said Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, adding, “We have staff and students affected by this.” He also gave a nod to the Southampton Road School, which raised the most at $200.
Toomey, who retired last year after 20 years as the family consumer science teacher at Westfield High School, retains strong ties with the district. She said Westfield is the first school to do a fundraiser like this for Cancer House of Hope. She thought of asking them, when she thought about how they raised money when she was at the high school.
Toomey first approached Westfield High School Principal Charles Jendrysik, who reached out to the superintendent. “It was a very quick phone call, which says a lot about Westfield Public Schools,” Toomey said.
“I’m glad we were able to do this, and I certainly appreciate the generosity of our staff,” Czaporowski said.
Toomey said the Cancer House of Hope, which is under the auspices of the Center for Human Development, is a non-profit agency committed to providing free services to cancer patients and their families. She said she is seeking funds for several programs, including Reiki massage, yoga and a wig boutique. The House staff are also forming a therapeutic riding group.
Toomey is trying to increase youth membership in their programs; including a support group at Westfield Technical Academy and WHS for youth who have been affected by the disease, or who have family, friends and relatives who have been affected,
“Just because we’re in West Springfield, a lot of people from Westfield still use our services,” she said. The Cancer House of Hope, originally in Westfield, relocated to its current home at 1995 Westfield Road, West Springfield in 2013.
The Cancer House of Hope will host its annual Luminaria event on the Storrowton Green in West Springfield from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 7. For more information, call Margaret Toomey at 733-1858 or contact her at [email protected].
