Agency donates to local cancer service

For many of the 270 women of Dowagiac’s Moose Lodge, cancer’s destructive impact has struck very close to home.

Member Debbie Cross, for instance, has lost two loved ones, her sister-in-law and a cousin, just this year to disease. These tragedies were on top of the death of her mother, who succumbed to a bout with  cancer, she said.

Just last month, though, Cross discovered a way for her and the other women of the order to help in the fight against cancer, while keeping the money close to home: by donating to Cass County Cancer Services.

“If I can do anything I can to help out, I will,” Cross said.

The officers met on Tuesday evening to discuss plans to give monetary support to the local cancer
support agency. This is the first time that the current slate of officers, who were elected in May, will be making a donation to them.

“The last set of officers donated $100 to them,” Cross said. “Hopefully we can do the same this time.”

Cross first found out Cass County Cancer Services during their annual Coins for Cancer luncheon at the Elk’s Club in August. There, the Moose Lodge member met with President Maxine Ownby, who was present at the meeting
on Wednesday.

“We run mostly on donations and fundraisers,” Ownby said. “Anytime someone wants to help out, we’re all for it.”

The organization’s luncheon drew in 84 people, the largest the event had ever seen in its history, Ownby said. While they are still in the process of counting the proceeds, she expects them to be quite high.

Ownby and other members with the service are currently supporting 125 people from around the county who are battling cancer. They offer a range of assistance to these patients, including providing gas cards to cover expenses when traveling between their homes and hospitals.

Assisting entities like Cass County Cancer Services is just one way that the Moose Lodge strives to make a difference in the community, Cross said. The members regularly host events aimed at improving the lives of local children at their lodge on M-51, including holding Halloween and Christmas parties.

“A lot of people don’t know that we’re more than just a bar,” Cross said. “We’re a social group, and we like to help out in the community.”

The lodge will host a comedy show on Saturday to help raise funds for the club, with commedians Brett Walkow and Andy Beningo performing at 8 p.m. Attendance costs $10, and will include a steak or fish dinner.