'Some Of The Biggest Hearts' Find A Home As Christmas Without Cancer Org Opens HQ In Orland

ORLAND PARK, IL — The artificial Christmas tree discovered in the mostly empty utility closet certainly seemed like a sign.

In what might seem a mundane moment to many, a realtor and her client were taking a look at some office space when they found it: a remnant of a previous owner, likely forgotten in the move.

But to them, it seemed sweetly serendipitous that they'd found a bit of holiday cheer tucked away there.

Christmas Without Cancer—an organization first started to brighten the holidays of families impacted by cancer—jumped at the space for its first brick-and-mortar headquarters, located at 15418 S Harlem Ave. in Orland Park.

For the first time, the organization has a home to call its own.

"This is something we’ve wanted for a very, very long time," said Renee Copeland, Christmas Without Cancer president.

"It’s been a dream of our mission, but huge for the cancer community because we plan on expanding our efforts. One thing I have noticed—these families need help financially, but they need so much more than that."

It's a poignant moment for the nonprofit that got its start in 2003, at the kitchen table of Evergreen Park native and oncology nurse Gerri Neylon. Neylon at the time worked at Advocate Christ Hospital, moved by the struggles of families undergoing cancer treatments and the toll it takes on them emotionally, physically and financially.

Her efforts started with helping one woman—one family. The woman was newly married, a new mom and homeowner, and her family's world had been upended by a cancer diagnosis.

"She gave this family a beautiful last Christmas, recruited neighbors—even strangers—to give this mom the best Christmas you could envision," Copeland said.

The woman died a short time later, but their efforts resonated with her husband, who contacted the organization and offered to help pay it forward for another family.

It was a ripple effect that has now touched 10,000 families, and has expanded to provide relief for recipients year-round. Neylon is now retired, but has carried on with the mission.

Since 2003, the organization has quietly identified and adopted multiple families in late fall and by Christmas season, supplied them with gift cards for groceries, medications, gas and other “need” items. While all the volunteers are local residents, many come from the healthcare field or have chosen to give their time after their own family was helped by the organization.

The new space, Copeland said, will enable them to provide even more resources, support and services for families impacted by cancer.

"The financial help is nice," Copeland said, "but they need so much more."

'One of the most special moments'

Copeland and the organization's leaders hadn't been sure where to start, looking for space to serve as its headquarters.

"We weren’t sure how to go about it," Copeland admitted.

They contacted realtor Jen Amelio, whose link to the organization was already deeply personal.

Amelio's son was diagnosed with leukemia—specifically, acute lymphoblastic leukemia—in 2012, and their family had been recipients of Christmas Without Cancer.

"They were the first organization that reached out to help when my son was diagnosed," Amelio said. "To have an organization step up without hesitation, and say, ‘we’ve got you'—it was incredibly heartwarming."

Their efforts materialized in meeting her family's needs in ways even they couldn't have foreseen.

"We didn’t know how often we’d be going to Walgreens, but they handed us so many Walgreens gift cards, and we used every single one," Amelio said. "Gift cards for restaurants near the hospital.

"Things you don’t think of, that you're going to need at the time—they already knew it. It was just really comforting to know that people were out there, looking out for us, before we even knew what we needed."

Her son is now 10 years in remission—"and doing great!"—and she was eager to help them find a space to hold all the good they do.

"Helping them has truly become one of the most special moments in my 22-year career as a realtor," Amelio told Patch. "It was an absolute honor to walk alongside them on their journey to find a headquarters.

"They have some of the biggest hearts out of anyone I know. They’re always full of new ideas, truly living out their purpose. It’s amazing to watch. When they called me to help them, it was such a humbling moment—without hesitation, of course. It would give them the room to grow and operate more efficiently.

"I can’t wait to watch them continue to grow and soar in the space."

More room to do more

The space at 15418 S Harlem Ave. includes three offices, a conference room, a file room and large meeting space, Copeland said. They've already been envisioning additional services, programs and ways they can expand their offerings.

A mentorship program tops the list.

"When patients are first diagnosed, they’re really looking to connect with someone who’s had a similar experience," she said. "If we can connect a patient, or a caregiver, with someone who’s had a same diagnosis, or a similar story, and provide that connection, I feel like that would be huge.

"... with our doors open, we can have a comfortable space for people to connect."

They also hope to offer counseling and stress management resources.

"Cancer takes a mental toll on not just the patient, but the family, their caregivers," Copeland said. "Giving them the resources to cope—that could be huge to our recipients."

They're looking forward to hosting free events to meet with families in person, and getting to know more closely the people they're helping.

The headquarters will also accommodate their cancer care bag program, which invites families who have just had a loved one diagnosed to create a bag of essential support items such as lotions, hand sanitizers, mementos—even something so simple as a deck of cards—to uplift a patient's spirits.

"We're super-excited about it," Copeland said.

The organization will host an open house at the new space, 15418 S. Harlem Ave., from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. A Barraco's food truck will be on site, with CWC volunteers and staff also present to field questions.

"It’s an open door—whoever wants to come in, check out our new facility," Copeland said. "A lot of people have heard of our organization, but we’ve been missing the face-to-face connection.

"I wish there was a cure—every year, we help 100 more families than we did the year before. Seeing the growth in our community—we really want to get in there and help as many people as we can."