Franciscan Health Cancer Center Indianapolis Patients Receive Snack Bags From Roncalli High School Swim Team

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana - Throughout the year, patients at the Franciscan Health Cancer Center Indianapolis receive a bag full of snacks, which are put together by student from the swim team at Roncalli High School in Indianapolis.

The funds to purchase the snacks in the bags are made possible by the generosity of the Officer David Moore Food Pantry on the south side of Indianapolis. 

With the donated funds, Audra Will, a 1995 graduate of Roncalli, who works part-time at the school, purchases items in bulk to load each bag. Snacks often include pudding cups, applesauce, granola bars, fruit snacks, pretzels and mints among other items. A pack of tissues is usually in each bag as well.

“I really love seeing these kids come together to make this one of their service projects,” said Will. “For them, it's a great way to get service hours in because that's something required at Roncalli, but also to spend time together as a team and to grow stronger as a team and build that connection with each other. It’s really fun to watch them together and see how they interact.”

The students put together about 200 bags every other month to be delivered to the Franciscan Health Cancer Center Indianapolis and distributed to patients who are undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

“For me, it’s about service to others and giving back to others,” said Will. “I want my kids to see how fortunate they are and to learn how good it can feel to do things for other people. I want them to always be of service to others. I think teaching them to do something, even though it doesn’t benefit them personally, is very important. It’s about having a loving heart and giving back to the community.”

Joan Himebrook, manager of outreach and events for the Franciscan Health Cancer Center, gets to see the smiles on the faces of patients who receive the goodies in each bag. She and the team at the cancer center are very grateful to the students who put the bags together.

“The bags are handed out by volunteers, nurses and other clinical staff to patients for first appointments and when they are facing long days in the cancer center,” said Himebrook. “They’re truly a comforting surprise to patients and caregivers on tough days, and we’re so grateful to the Roncalli swimmers for extending such kindness to our cancer patients. I wish they could see the faces of those receiving the bags and know the difference they make to people on some of their hardest days.”

Learn more about the Franciscan Health Cancer Center Indianapolis.