"Whenever I share the satchels with our patients, their reactions range from surprise to being overcome with emotion. They can’t believe I am giving (most are surprised it is free) them this bag filled with wonderful items to help them get through a difficult time. It is especially gratifying for me to provide the satchels and to see the reactions of our patients. They are so moved by this kind gesture and generous gift, they often question if this is a mistake or they didn’t hear me correctly. Some have questioned if they need to return the satchel upon discharge. Of course, I have reassured them repeatedly that it is theirs to keep. I usually give them a few choices, so the gals really enjoy “shopping” for their special satchel. It makes the day a little brighter and the mood a little lighter when you can talk about something other than diseases or treatments.
It is a great program that our CancerCenter is proud to be involved with and to support!"
Sincerely,
Karen Gasper
St. Clair Hospital
It is a great program that our CancerCenter is proud to be involved with and to support!"
Sincerely,
Karen Gasper
St. Clair Hospital
Our success has been made possible by our members, friends, and sponsors, as well as our Helping Hands Organizations, which have enabled the Foundation to expand distribution of the Satchels of Caring and reach so many women dealing with cancer. But we also need your help to continue to expand our efforts.
This initiative began as a way to make a difference in women’s lives, for both those that assemble the Satchels and those that receive them. The Satchels of Caring program is not about money, but about shared experiences. All monies raised have gone towards covering expenses for the contents.
This initiative began as a way to make a difference in women’s lives, for both those that assemble the Satchels and those that receive them. The Satchels of Caring program is not about money, but about shared experiences. All monies raised have gone towards covering expenses for the contents.
Volunteer at Community Action Days or Lunch & Evening Work Sessions
We have organized a variety of ways for volunteers to participate in our program.
Committee members and friends meet at quarterly Community Action Days to sew and assemble Satchels of Caring and prepare contents for distribution. These sessions usually involve a variety of activities from folding or tying ribbons to cutting fabric, or even creating journals with Stampin’ Up!. For these events, we work with partner organizations such as St. Clair Hospital or Susan G. Komen, who provide additional support through their individual volunteer networks.
We also host monthly evening sessions on the second Tuesday of each month at our space in Centre City Tower- 650 Smithfield Street, Suite 1180, Pittsburgh, PA. These sessions last from 6:00 pm to around 8:00pm and allow our members and friends to gather after work to socialize and participate in the program.
Lunch sessions are held on the last Tuesday of each month from noon to 1:00pm, also at Centre City Tower, Suite 1180.
We will schedule additional lunch and evening work sessions as needed to cut fabric and assemble kits for delivery to various schools and clubs for assembly. Please see our calendar for upcoming events or contact our administrator at admin@satchelsofcaring.org to be added to our mailing list.
To receive kits for your sewing group or organization, please contact Kathy Graham at kgirish@aol.com.
Committee members and friends meet at quarterly Community Action Days to sew and assemble Satchels of Caring and prepare contents for distribution. These sessions usually involve a variety of activities from folding or tying ribbons to cutting fabric, or even creating journals with Stampin’ Up!. For these events, we work with partner organizations such as St. Clair Hospital or Susan G. Komen, who provide additional support through their individual volunteer networks.
We also host monthly evening sessions on the second Tuesday of each month at our space in Centre City Tower- 650 Smithfield Street, Suite 1180, Pittsburgh, PA. These sessions last from 6:00 pm to around 8:00pm and allow our members and friends to gather after work to socialize and participate in the program.
Lunch sessions are held on the last Tuesday of each month from noon to 1:00pm, also at Centre City Tower, Suite 1180.
We will schedule additional lunch and evening work sessions as needed to cut fabric and assemble kits for delivery to various schools and clubs for assembly. Please see our calendar for upcoming events or contact our administrator at admin@satchelsofcaring.org to be added to our mailing list.
To receive kits for your sewing group or organization, please contact Kathy Graham at kgirish@aol.com.
Monetary Donations
Thank you for choosing to support the Satchels of Caring Foundation. To make a tax-deductible donation to our organization, please send a check payable to the Satchels of Caring Foundation at the following address:
Satchels of Caring Foundation
P.O. Box 644
Bridgeville, PA 15017
Voicemail: 412-220-7822
Or donations can also be made online through our PayPal account below. A return receipt will be mailed back to you. For those making satchel requests, a donation of $29 is recommended.
Satchels of Caring Foundation
P.O. Box 644
Bridgeville, PA 15017
Voicemail: 412-220-7822
Or donations can also be made online through our PayPal account below. A return receipt will be mailed back to you. For those making satchel requests, a donation of $29 is recommended.
Satchel Contents - Donations Needed
Our Foundation is in need of journals and travel-size lotions for the Satchels of Caring. We also accept donations of trims, buttons, and thread. Donations can be shipped to or dropped off at our suite in Centre City Tower:
Satchels of Caring Foundation
Attn: Linda Fryz
Centre City Tower
650 Smithfield Ave, Suite 555
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: 412-566-2810
Lfryz@centrecitytower.com
Satchels of Caring Foundation
Attn: Linda Fryz
Centre City Tower
650 Smithfield Ave, Suite 555
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: 412-566-2810
Lfryz@centrecitytower.com
Grants & Partners
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Our partnership with the Pittsburgh Affiliate of Susan G. Komen (“Komen”) began in 2006 when we received a $2,500 grant that allowed us to distribute our Satchels to 100 women who would not otherwise have been reached and initiated an exciting synergy between our two organizations. Foundation volunteers have joined Komen volunteers at their office to create and assemble Satchels for distribution by Komen. Twice a year, Komen and the Satchels of Caring Foundation join together to host a “pink badge” day, so that local Girl Scouts can earn their pink badge by sewing buttons on Satchels, folding scarves, turban instructions, invitations and note cards and adding ribbons to our journals, note cards, inspirational booklets and bookmarks. Through subsequent grant renewals, we have been able to distribute over 1,000 satchels through our partnership with Komen. In late 2009, we received notice of our grant renewal for 2010 in the amount of $13,800 which will produce 600 satchels to be specifically targeted for outreach to underserved communities in the greater western PA region.
Allegheny County Medical Society Foundation
The ACMS Foundation provides support for charitable, scientific and educational purposes addressing medical issues in our community. The ACMS Foundation - created, funded, and administered by physicians - holds an honored place in Pittsburgh's health care history. Instituted in 1960, ACMS started the Foundation with leftover donations from the polio immunization program. The immunization effort was undertaken by ACMS and the Allegheny County Health Department, and sparked a public outpouring of donations collected in jars on the streets of Pittsburgh. The Foundation has since given $2.1 million back to the community, and is still guided by its original mission: to alleviate suffering by helping people of all backgrounds live better, healthier lives through access to health care, education, and related services. The Foundation traditionally supports programs that find practical solutions to very real problems in our community. For the second year in a row, the Satchels of Caring Foundation has received a generous grant from the ACMS Foundation in the amount of $5,200.
Designtex
Since February 2005, the Satchels of Caring Foundation has partnered with our local representative for Designtex, a leading contract fabric and wall covering company. Custom fabric binders for the Satchels of Caring program (formerly New You) have been distributed to all of the architectural and design firms in the area. Whenever fabrics, upholstery or wall coverings from this special Designtex binder are ordered for a project, a portion of the sale proceeds goes to the Satchels of Caring Foundation. Manufacturers participating in this program also donate a significant amount of discontinued fabrics that we use for creating the Satchels.
Pittsburgh Foundation
The Pittsburgh Foundation is the 14th largest community foundation in the country. Since 1945, it has worked to improve the quality of life in the Pittsburgh region by evaluating and addressing community issues, promoting charitable giving, and connecting donors to the critical needs of the community. The Pittsburgh Foundation provides individuals, families, organizations and corporations with an avenue for their charitable giving, while they benefit from considerable tax savings. In the past, our Foundation has been listed and received donations through the Pittsburgh Foundation's Wish Book which were earmarked for the purchase of contents for our Satchels. Last year, the Pittsburgh Foundation created a new website, PittsburghGives, to serve as an easy-to-use research tool to help donors obtain information about charitable organizations in the region and allow contributions to be made directly to these organizations by credit card. The Foundation invited us to create a profile in time for their public launch- our complete portrait can be accessed by clicking on this link or by searching on the PittsburghGives website for "CREW Pittsburgh Foundation."
Our partnership with the Pittsburgh Affiliate of Susan G. Komen (“Komen”) began in 2006 when we received a $2,500 grant that allowed us to distribute our Satchels to 100 women who would not otherwise have been reached and initiated an exciting synergy between our two organizations. Foundation volunteers have joined Komen volunteers at their office to create and assemble Satchels for distribution by Komen. Twice a year, Komen and the Satchels of Caring Foundation join together to host a “pink badge” day, so that local Girl Scouts can earn their pink badge by sewing buttons on Satchels, folding scarves, turban instructions, invitations and note cards and adding ribbons to our journals, note cards, inspirational booklets and bookmarks. Through subsequent grant renewals, we have been able to distribute over 1,000 satchels through our partnership with Komen. In late 2009, we received notice of our grant renewal for 2010 in the amount of $13,800 which will produce 600 satchels to be specifically targeted for outreach to underserved communities in the greater western PA region.
Allegheny County Medical Society Foundation
The ACMS Foundation provides support for charitable, scientific and educational purposes addressing medical issues in our community. The ACMS Foundation - created, funded, and administered by physicians - holds an honored place in Pittsburgh's health care history. Instituted in 1960, ACMS started the Foundation with leftover donations from the polio immunization program. The immunization effort was undertaken by ACMS and the Allegheny County Health Department, and sparked a public outpouring of donations collected in jars on the streets of Pittsburgh. The Foundation has since given $2.1 million back to the community, and is still guided by its original mission: to alleviate suffering by helping people of all backgrounds live better, healthier lives through access to health care, education, and related services. The Foundation traditionally supports programs that find practical solutions to very real problems in our community. For the second year in a row, the Satchels of Caring Foundation has received a generous grant from the ACMS Foundation in the amount of $5,200.
Designtex
Since February 2005, the Satchels of Caring Foundation has partnered with our local representative for Designtex, a leading contract fabric and wall covering company. Custom fabric binders for the Satchels of Caring program (formerly New You) have been distributed to all of the architectural and design firms in the area. Whenever fabrics, upholstery or wall coverings from this special Designtex binder are ordered for a project, a portion of the sale proceeds goes to the Satchels of Caring Foundation. Manufacturers participating in this program also donate a significant amount of discontinued fabrics that we use for creating the Satchels.
Pittsburgh Foundation
The Pittsburgh Foundation is the 14th largest community foundation in the country. Since 1945, it has worked to improve the quality of life in the Pittsburgh region by evaluating and addressing community issues, promoting charitable giving, and connecting donors to the critical needs of the community. The Pittsburgh Foundation provides individuals, families, organizations and corporations with an avenue for their charitable giving, while they benefit from considerable tax savings. In the past, our Foundation has been listed and received donations through the Pittsburgh Foundation's Wish Book which were earmarked for the purchase of contents for our Satchels. Last year, the Pittsburgh Foundation created a new website, PittsburghGives, to serve as an easy-to-use research tool to help donors obtain information about charitable organizations in the region and allow contributions to be made directly to these organizations by credit card. The Foundation invited us to create a profile in time for their public launch- our complete portrait can be accessed by clicking on this link or by searching on the PittsburghGives website for "CREW Pittsburgh Foundation."
Contact Us
Satchels of Caring Foundation, P.O. Box 644, Bridgeville, PA 15017
412-220-7822
The Satchels of Caring Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is classified by the IRS as a “public charity.”
Satchels of Caring Foundation, P.O. Box 644, Bridgeville, PA 15017
412-220-7822
The Satchels of Caring Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is classified by the IRS as a “public charity.”