A Katy-based organization, Cinco Charities has found a different way to help patients and their families during treatment of a terminal illness. Distinct from the Cotton Foundation, Cinco Charities does not have a facility. Rather, this organization applies a budget to housing its approved applicants. Within the month of December, Cinco Charities’ Board of Directors approved four applications to provide nearly $8,000 in support to house patients and their family members.
One patient and her son are being housed in an apartment near MD Anderson, where the patient will receive a bone marrow transplant to treat her recurring Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The procedure threatens serious infection, making close proximity to the hospital critical to the patient’s housing. Another female patient has been diagnosed with Lymphoblastic Lymphoma, which also requires a bone marrow transplant. She will be staying in a hotel situated in the Medical Center.
The family of a male stroke victim had planned to sleep in their car while supporting him in his recovery. A social worker at Memorial Hermann referred the family to Cinco Charities, and the family will now be housed close to the facility. Finally, Moxie Moms referred a nine-year-old boy who has cancer of the brain and spine. The boy’s family will be accommodated during his six-to-eight-week treatment.
Unlike many organizations, Cinco Charities does not impose age requirements or conduct a financial litmus test before approving aid to its applicants. The group’s criteria for assistance qualification is simple: The patient must be referred by a Katy-area medical service provider or service organization, like Katy Christian Ministries, or a church, hospital, clinic, and so on. Secondly, the medical treatment must be for a life-threatening illness or condition.
“Beyond that, it’s just a question of do we have money in the budget,” explained Chris Hiller, board member and former chairperson for Cinco Charities. “Just the other day, a title company came in with a check for $2,100. I was floored,” he said. “And Sam’s Club gave us $1,000 just before Thanksgiving. We’re very grateful. We’re starting to get enough people to be aware, where the donations are really starting to come in.”
Such awareness and generosity will help Cinco Charities realize its vision for developing a freestanding facility in Katy. “We really have our eyes on building in Katy, and we’re in the process of finding land,” Hiller said.
Cinco Charities has been helping to house patients and their families for two years. The group housed four people last year and six people this year.
The preceding article was originally published in Absolutely! Katy, a nationally recognized regional magazine headquartered in Katy, Texas. You can read the original article here.