Cheerful Heart helps cancer patients

Cancer patients in Lake County are eligible for free non-medical services provided by Cheerful Heart.  The non-profit organization offers gas cards, meal preparation, transportation to treatment or medical appointments locally or in Missoula and Kalispell, massage, hair and skin care.

Volunteers serve soup on Tuesdays during the Oncology Clinic at St. Joseph Medical Center. St. Luke in Ronan schedules appointments at their infusion center throughout the week. Both clinics carry inventories of head coverings, including wigs, hats and scarves, Knitted Knockers (breast prosthesis) and ComfyChemo shirts available for no charge to patients.

Cheerful Touch is a personal care program offered by Cheerful Heart to cancer patients currently in treatment. Through the program, local cosmetologists and massage therapists offer massages and skin, nail and hair care (patients should consult with their doctors before using these services). Call Cheerful Heart with questions or to schedule an appointment at 406-883-3070.

A cancer support group meets from noon to 1 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month in the chapel at St. Joseph Medical Center and is led by Matthew Connally of the Ronan/Polson Nazarene Church.

For more information, visit www.cheerfulheart.org, email cheartinc@gmail.com or call 406-883-3070.