POR’s community outreach focuses on individuals and local families dealing with a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. We know the difficulties, and we have experienced the hardships of this disease, so it is our goal is to provide families with a network of support, resources, and a strong community outside of the everyday hospital and treatment centers that can provide relief when it is needed most.
POR’s flagship program, “POR ‘Kats,” began as a small way for us to provide assistance to families during the holiday season, specifically those with young children. Over time, we have developed this program far beyond the holiday season, and the relationships we have formed with those families we have reached, extends much further than seasonal cheer. With each ‘Kat, we realize how our presence truly makes an impact. Besides pirate costumes, Cheetos, and spa days we have given to each family, the greatest gift we have been able to give is the community of support and hope.
Our approach to making a meaningful difference is not sophisticated – we kick off the program during the holiday season and show up and do whatever it is we can to help families throughout the diagnosis, treatment, and recover phases of pancreatic cacncer. Using the resources that we have, we are provide them with personal experiences, surprise gifts, and most importantly, laughs and friendships. Our experience has shown that we have been able to give these families something very unique and unexpected throughout some of the toughest of times they may face.
We are reminded of the impact we make in the local community by those families that we “adopted” over the years. The relationships formed through this program extend beyond the holiday season and it has been our goal to not only help and assist these families during the most difficult of times, but to also be there for them when the initial shock and reality of this disease begins to dwindle. The families we have been connected with are truly amazing, and we hope to grow this program to more and more families each year. The success of this program shows that we all have the ability to make a real difference in the lives of others, and the pathway we have created as a strong, small community proves how powerful the impact a group of passionate people can be.
