Brandon Spillett, of Syracuse, an Upstate volunteer, shows the Comfort Cart, which offers items to patients at the Upstate Cancer Center. (PHOTO BY DEBBIE REXINE)
Volunteers at the Upstate Cancer Center staff a cart full of comfort items that they make available to outpatients and inpatients. A Kobalt tool cart was purchased with donations from Lowe’s Home Improvement Store and Room 2 Smile, an organization started by Brandon Spillett, of Syracuse, after his father, Daniel, died in 2005. Voss Signs wrapped the cart with a large vinyl decal so that the cart blends in with the center’s theme of nature. Spillett is an Upstate volunteer.
On top of the cart: Cancer Care magazine, brochures about services at the Upstate Cancer Center.
Top drawer: lip balm, hand sanitizer, personal tissue packs, blank greeting cards, toothbrush-and-toothpaste packs and mouthwash.
Second drawer: American Cancer Society information and referral forms for various services the society makes available.
Third drawer: decks of playing cards, Crazy 8’s and Go Fish, plus paperback sudoku and crossword puzzle books.
Fourth drawer: small water bottles, hand lotion, throat lozenges
Bottom drawer: a dozen Kindles, loaded with periodicals, to lend to patients.
This article appears in the summer 2015 issue of Cancer Care magazine.
