LI's Sarah Grace Foundation Founder On School Drive: 'Time Is Running Out'

HICKSVILLE, NY — As the school year draws closer, The Sarah Grace Foundation for Children With Cancer is asking for support on its annual School Supply Drive.

The Sarah Grace Foundation was founded in 2003 and is named in honor of Sarah Grace Weippert, who died of leukemia in November 2002 at the age of 12.

The Hicksville-based not-for-profit corporation is dedicated to improving the quality of life of children with cancer and to provide comfort and support to the families of children suffering from cancer.

"Time is running out for you to donate to our school supply drive," Matthew Weippert, executive director of The Sarah Grace Foundation and Sarah's father, told Patch. "The families of children with cancer face undue hardship with their disease and desperately need the support the Sarah Grace Foundation can provide. Please help us by using our online link today."

Locally, people may drop off supplies at Ray Leventhal Clothing, at 355 S. Oyster Bay Road, Plainview.

"Many children with cancer cannot attend their regular schools due to severely compromised immune systems, but school supplies are still necessary for their home schooling or in-patient tutoring," Weippert previously said. "There is a tremendous need for backpacks, notebooks, pencils, pens, erasers, glue, pocket folders and more to provide for these children. Parents need to focus on caring for their sick child, and not about trying to provide the right supplies for the school year."